COOK COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTHOUSE — When a West Ridge pedestrian paused to read a text message Monday night, a man rushed her from behind and violently groped her, prosecutors said.
The victim, a 21-year-old woman, was walking in the 7000 block of North Sacramento Avenue when she stopped to read a text message shortly after 10 p.m. Monday, according to Assistant State's Attorney Joe DiBella, who spoke during a bond hearing Tuesday.
Jorge Jaramillo, 20, grabbed the woman from behind and held his hand over her mouth so she couldn't scream, prosecutors said. The victim had just walked past Jaramillo moments earlier; the two did not know each other.
As the victim scratched Jaramillo and tried to pull away, he threw her to the ground and groped her "very hard," DiBella said.
The woman was able to pull Jaramillo's hand away from her mouth and scream several times, prosecutors said. Jaramillo then ran away, and two witnesses — a husband and wife who live on the street — came outside to see why the woman was screaming, DiBella said.
The victim described her attacker for police, and Jaramillo was arrested four blocks away a short while later, according to prosecutors.
Jaramillo, who lives in the 1700 block of West Estes Avenue in Rogers Park, was charged with criminal sexual abuse. Cook County Judge James Brown on Tuesday ordered him held in lieu of $150,000 bail.
Jaramillo's public defender said Jaramillo lives with his parents and has no criminal background.
For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here:
