CHICAGO — A 47-year-old man charged with sexual abuse for three incidents on the Red Line and a CTA bus was thwarted during an attack by an earlier victim who recognized him, prosecutors said Friday.
Juan Juarez was charged with aggravated criminal sexual abuse and aggravated battery on public transportation, according to police.
Around 8:05 a.m. on May 13, Juarez was on a crowded Red Line train and stood behind a 64-year-old woman, prosecutors said. He was aroused when the doors closed, and rubbed up against the woman's back, prosecutors said.
On June 2, the same woman saw Juarez on a Red Line train attempting to rub up against another woman, prosecutors said. The 64-year-old woman then tried to intervene by placing her bag between Juarez and the other woman, prosecutors said. Juarez ran away when the train stopped, and the 64-year-old woman reported both incidents to police, prosecutors said.
Detectives were able to recover surveillance footage of the June incident and used facial recognition technology to determine Juarez's identity and create a bulletin with his face on it, according to court documents.
Prosecutors allege Juarez acted again on Sept. 4 on a CTA bus. Around 7:30 a.m., on a bus near the 3400 block of West Belmont Avenue, Juarez repeatedly bumped his crotch against a woman on the bus, prosecutors said.
The woman attempted to move away and budge Juarez with her elbow but he continued until he exited the bus, according to court documents. The woman reported the incident to the CTA and the incident was also captured on camera, according to prosecutors.
Juarez was identified by both victims in a photo array and Juarez confessed while in custody, prosecutors said.
Juarez is currently on supervision for misdemeanor battery.
The CTA provided the following statement:
"The CTA worked closely with the Chicago Police Department to assist with their investigation including providing surveillance footage and this is another example of our expansive camera network, which now numbers approximately 23,000, is aiding in the investigation and prosecution of those who commit crimes on the CTA."
For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here:
