COOK COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTHOUSE — A second man has been charged with beating and sexually assaulting two women as they left The MID nightclub on Halloween.
Brian Ventura, 26, was arrested after both victims identified him in security footage, prosecutors said. He's been charged with felony aggravated criminal sexual assault.
According to prosecutors, Ventura worked with 27-year-old Greg Bogacz to attack two women shortly after 3 a.m. on Oct. 31.
The women had just left The MID, 306 N. Halsted St., and were walking to their SUV in the 800 block of West Wayman Street when they realized one of the car's windows had been smashed, prosecutors said. Several items were stolen.
As the victims, ages 29 and 30, stood on either side of the SUV assessing damage, prosecutors said, Ventura and Bogacz snuck up from behind and wrapped their hands around the women's necks.
Bogacz strangled one of the women until she lost consciousness, prosecutors said, while Ventura muffled the screams of her companion.
The two men forced the women into the SUV, where they sexually assaulted and beat them, prosecutors said.
One of the women was able to escape. According to prosecutors, she ran, mostly naked, for several blocks until she encountered several people working outside of a warehouse. They called 911.
Meanwhile, Ventura dragged the other victim by her hair from the SUV to his own vehicle, prosecutors said. A witness saw him and noted a portion of his license plate, prosecutors said. The woman later escaped.
Both women later identified the men in surveillance video from The MID, prosecutors said. The footage was provided to the media, and police received multiple tips that led to the arrest of both Bogacz and Ventura.
Bogacz was ordered held in lieu of $300,000 bail on Nov. 12. Both men appeared in court Monday, where Ventura also was ordered held on $300,000 bail.
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