Joliet man charged with predatory sex assault tried to flee to Mexico: records

A Joliet man facing a charge of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child tried to flee to Mexico, court records show.

Joel Lopez-Reyes, 41, of the 2600 block of East Cass Street, was apprehended by border patrol agents in Texas and was taken to the Will County jail on Thursday.

Lopez-Reyes has been indicted on charges of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child and three other charges of aggravated criminal sexual abuse. The charges allege he engaged in sexual contact with a female minor who was under 13 on Aug. 25, 2019

Lopez-Reyes was first arrested on Dec. 17 following an investigation by the Will County Sheriff’s Office.

He was released from jail several days later on Christmas Eve later when his daughter-in-law from West Chicago posted 10% of his $1 million bond, court records show.

Lopez-Reyes reportedly tried to flee to Mexico, according to a motion from Will County Assistant State’s Attorney Mary Fillipitch. Judge Dave Carlson granted Fillipitch’s motion to revoke Lopez-Reyes’ bond and issue a warrant for his arrest.

On Jan. 3, border patrol agents at the Brackettville Border Patrol Station in Texas told officials in Will County that Lopez-Reyes was in their custody, Fillipitch’s motion said.

The officer who arrested Lopez-Reyes said he was a “passenger in a car stopped for a traffic violation,” Fillipitch’s motion said.

“He was subsequently arrested with fraudulent identification and the defendant admitted to obtaining those documents to cross into Mexico,” Fillipitch’s motion said.

Fillipitch said Lopez-Reyes violated the conditions of his bond by leaving Illinois and committing a felony.