http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/news ... 30.article

An illegal alien may get deported to Mexico for committing "one of the worst crimes", a Lake County judge said Monday.

Omar Blas-Pineda, 23, of Mundelein admitted to having a sexual relationship with a 12-year-old girl who was an acquaintance of his family. Associate Judge Daniel Shanes sentenced him to 20 years in prison for one count of predatory criminal sexual assault. He will also have to register as a sex offender for life and serve a minimum of three years of parole.

» Click to enlarge image Blas-Pineda


He may also be deported after he serves his sentence, Shanes said.

"There was much ado from the defendant that this was consensual, but force or no force, a 23-year-old man does not have sex with a 12-year-old girl," Shanes said.

Assistant State's Attorney Jim Newman said the defendant spent a lot of time "grooming" the victim. He began by having conversations with the girl about dating her, progressed to hand-holding and then progressed in stages until he had intercourse with her at least on two occasions in December 2008 and April 2009 while residing in Mundelein.

"When she was groomed appropriately, he took advantage of her," Newman said.

Public Defender Katherine Hatch said this was the beginning of a relationship, not grooming. She pointed out her client had no documented criminal history and said Blas-Pineda's imprisonment would cause hardship for his wife and children in Mexico.

Shanes said that it appears he wed his wife when she was 14 or 15, evidence that he targets a younger age for sex.

"I believe you are an untreated sex offender and will likely do this again," Shanes told the defendant.

He also said Blas-Pineda had previously been deported from Arizona and entered the U.S. illegally in June 2008. He purchased a Social Security number, which is illegal.

There is no indication the defendant suffers from a mental illness, Newman said.

Blas-Pineda had said that he had fallen in love with the victim. He did not exercise his right to address the court.

"The toll this could have on a 12-year-old is immeasurable or unknown at this point ... there is a bruising and tearing of a 12-year-old's psyche," Newman said.
At least the paper called him what he is - "illegal alien". And this in a city that's probably 1/2 illegal.