DeKalb man accused of raping woman held on $75K bond

SYCAMORE – A 26-year-old DeKalb man accused of raping a woman in July is being held on $75,000 bond in the DeKalb County Jail.

Elarqam Elalaoui, of the 200 block of Augusta Avenue, is charged with criminal sexual assault and, if convicted, would be sentenced to four to 15 years in prison.

Assistant State’s Attorney Dave Belshan told Chief Judge Robbin Stuckert that, according to police reports and information from his office, Elalaoui had sex with the woman while she was passed out in his apartment July 15, and that after initially denying it, later admitted to her in person that he’d had sex with her that morning.

“I have two sons, I have a good job, I have a car,” Elalaoui said Thursday during his bond hearing. “If I stay in here, I’m going to lose everything. I’ll always show up to court. I’m not afraid of justice. I’m innocent. Can you please let me get back to my job and my life? I’m looking at my life going to waste, and it’s going to get worse if I stay in here.”

Weighing, among other factors, Elalaoui’s seven previous failures to appear in court, Stuckert ruled that rather than the $150,000 attached to the warrant for his arrest, he be held on $75,000 bond, and that if he posts $7,500 to be released, he be placed on electronic home monitoring and have no contact with the victim.

Stuckert asked whether he’d be able to come up with $7,500.

“Your honor, I’m poor,” he said.

Public Defender Tom McCulloch said his office, which already represents Elalaoui on a burglary charge, will file a motion to reduce bond. Elalaoui was released from jail July 24 on his signature on the burglary charge, which was filed after the alleged criminal sex abuse incident.

Elalaoui is due back in court at 9 a.m. Nov. 16.