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Updated: Feb 05, 2007 - 11:22:18 am CST

DeKalb man charged with trying to rape sleeping NIU student

DeKALB - A 26-year-old DeKalb man was arrested Saturday after he allegedly tried to rape a woman in a Greek Row-area rooming house.

Police said Juan Manuel Cruz-Gallardo tried to assault an 18-year-old Northern Illinois University student as she slept in a rooming house in the 800 block of Greenbrier Road just before 7 a.m.

The woman fought her attacker off, and he was found less than an hour later hiding in the house's laundry room, where he was arrested, according to DeKalb Police Lt. Jim Kayes. Kayes said Cruz-Gallardo also was carrying a small amount of a substance believed to be cocaine when he was found.

Kayes said the woman was not seriously injured and did not know Cruz-Gallardo.

Cruz-Gallardo was described as a recent Honduran immigrant who resides in the Greek Row area. Kayes said he has been deported in the past, and initially provided police with a false identity. It is not known whether he is currently in the country legally.

He has been charged with home invasion, unlawful restraint, attempted criminal sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual abuse and unlawful possession of a controlled substance.

Home invasion is a Class X felony punishable by six to 30 years in prison; the sexual assault and abuse charges are Class 2 felonies, punishable by three to seven years in prison each; and unlawful restraint and possession of a controlled substance are Class 4 felonies, punishable by one to three years in prison each. A $25,000 fine also may be levied for each of the five charges.

Charges for providing false information to the police are pending, Kayes said.