CHICAGO — Before sexually assaulting a 20-year-old homeless man in a public park, James Starkey offered to buy him dinner, prosecutors said Friday.
A convicted rapist, Starkey met the homeless man Wednesday while walking in the area of Adams and Wells streets, Assistant State's Attorney Hearth Kent said during a bond hearing Friday. He approached the victim, offering to get him something to eat.
The two walked together to a nearby 7-Eleven, where Starkey bought two beers and an apple, she said. Then, Starkey offered to take the homeless man to a restaurant and wrapped his arm around him.
Sensing he was in danger, the homeless man allegedly mouthed the words "Call the police" to a passerby.
In D'Angelo Park, 413 S. Wacker Dr., at about 10:30 p.m., Starkey allegedly told the victim he would pay him $100 "to do stuff to the victim," Kent said.
When the homeless man refused and tried to run away, Starkey allegedly grabbed him, choked him and said he'd kill him if he didn't get what he wanted. Then Starkey allegedly raped the man.
Starkey, of the 2700 block of West Harrison Street, is charged with aggravated criminal sexual assault. A judge ordered him held on $600,000 bond Friday.
In detailing Starkey's criminal record Friday, prosecutors said he was convicted in a 1993 aggravated criminal sexual assault, for which Starkey was sentenced to nine years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.
