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Accused Serial Rapist Marc Winner Released From Jail, Then Runs From Media

By  Erica Demarest and Joe Ward | August 9, 2016 6:33pm | Updated on August 9, 2016 11:35pm

 The former West Loop tanning-salon owner accused of raping at least four women was released from Cook County Jail about 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, officials said.

Bond was posted for Marc Winner, 45, Tuesday evening, according to Cook County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Sophia Ansari. Though Winner will walk free pending trial, he is required to adhere to a 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. curfew and wear an electronic-monitoring bracelet, a judge ruled.
The former West Loop tanning-salon owner accused of raping at least four women was released from Cook County Jail about 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, officials said. Bond was posted for Marc Winner, 45, Tuesday evening, according to Cook County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Sophia Ansari. Though Winner will walk free pending trial, he is required to adhere to a 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. curfew and wear an electronic-monitoring bracelet, a judge ruled.
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DNAinfo/Joe Ward

COOK COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTHOUSE — Marc Winner, the former West Loop tanning-salon owner accused of raping at least four women, was released from Cook County Jail on Tuesday.

The ex-entrepreneur made a dramatic exit about 7:30 p.m. — sprinting down the sidewalk in hopes of avoiding a gaggle of reporters that had gathered outside the jail, 2700 S. California Ave.

Winner dashed through traffic, cutting between cars, before eventually getting into a silver Jeep stopped at a red light. He did not answer questions or make any comments.

Bond had been posted earlier that evening, according to Cook County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Sophia Ansari. Though Winner will walk free pending trial, he is required to adhere to a 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. curfew and wear an electronic-monitoring bracelet, a judge ruled.

The combined bail for Winner's four pending rape cases is $625,000 — meaning he needed to post $62,500, or 10 percent of the total amount.

Marc Winner leaves jail Tuesday night. [DNAinfo/Joe Ward]

Winner has been held without bail since April 30 when prosecutors filed charges in the third of four pending rape cases and a Cook County judge dubbed Winner "a danger."

But last week, Cook County Judge Carol M. Howard reduced Winner's no-bail hold in the third case to $100,000 bail. Winner was previously hit with $500,000 bail for this first two cases, and $25,000 bail for the fourth pending case.

Prosecutors allege Winner has raped nine women. Five of those incidents lay outside the statute of limitations for filing charges, Assistant State's Attorney Mikki Miller has said. The remaining four cases are pending before Judge Howard.

In three of those cases, Winner is accused of raping employees or customers at his tanning salon, Soleil, 1018 W. Madison St., which was shuttered by the city in May when Winner failed to renew his business license. In the fourth case, Winner allegedly raped an acquaintance inside his mother's Edgewater home.

When Lesley Barton heard about last week's bail reduction, she said, "This is exactly why rape victims don't come forward." Winner was arrested for criminally sexually assaulting Barton in 2001 — but prosecutors only pushed for a misdemeanor battery charge in that case, and Winner walked away on probation.

RELATED: Tanning Salon Owner Marc Winner Raped Me in 2001 But Went Free, Woman Says

When women do come forward, Barton said, "they face the man, the predator, that brutally raped and strangled them — and then a judge lets him go free."

Winner "has clearly raped women and not given it a second thought," Barton charged. "We aren't people to him. ... And here, [Judge Howard] lets him out to go do it again."

Winner will next appear in court Aug. 17 before Judge Howard.

To learn more about Winner's pending cases, read:

Accused Serial Rapist Marc Winner Could Be Free Soon After Bail Reduction

Marc Winner Raped Woman In His Mom's Edgewater Home, Officials Say

City Shuts Down Accused Serial Rapist Marc Winner's Tanning Salon

Accused Rapist Marc Winner Attacked in County Jail, Officials Say

Accused Serial Rapist's Tanning Salon Operating Illegally, City Says

Accused Serial Rapist's Tanning Salon Should Be Shut Down, Alderman Says

Suspected Serial Rapist Marc Winner 'Anxious' For Trial, Attorney Says

Tanning Salon Owner Marc Winner Raped Me in 2001 But Went Free, Woman Says

Salon Owner Charged In 3 Rape Cases Denied Bail, 'A Danger,' Judge Says

Tanning Salon Owner Allegedly Raped 2nd Woman After Judge Tossed 2013 Case

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