Molestation gang get years behind bars

June 8, 2007
By Kim Janssen Staff writer
A sexual predator who convinced a 12-year-old girl they were in love and farmed her out to adult friends for sex has been jailed for four years after pleading guilty to aggravated criminal sexual abuse.

Benito Guevara, 27, of the 6600 block of West 104th Place, Chicago Ridge, met his young victim at his apartment complex, sweet talked her and promised to marry her and move with her to Mexico when she turned 18, police said.
The seventh-grader was convinced she was in love with Guevara and performed several sex acts on him, police said.
She eventually told her mother what had happened, sparking the police investigation.

Guevara's pals, Juan Chavez, 23, of the same apartment complex as Guevara, and Efrain Mendiola, 20, of the 10700 block of South Lloyd Avenue, Worth, were sentenced at Bridgeview courthouse Tuesday to three years behind bars each after they also admitted to the aggravated criminal sexual assault of the girl.

A fourth adult defendant, Jose Monroy, 28, of the 10400 block of South Nashville Avenue, Chicago Ridge, denies the offense, as does a 15-year-old boy being prosecuted in the juvenile courts.

Chicago Ridge police Chief Tim Baldermann said Thursday his officers and the Cook County State's Attorney had done a good job to secure the convictions.

"These type of situations are happening more and more, so it's great to have got this result," he said.
Kim Janssen may be reached at
kjanssen@dailysouthtown.com
or (70 633-5998.

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