COOK COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTHOUSE — A landlord raped his 21-year-old tenant when he visited her South Deering home to collect rent Sunday night, prosecutors alleged.
Martell McDonald, 24, stopped by the home in the 10500 block of South Oglesby Avenue to collect rent about 8:15 p.m. Sunday, according to Assistant State's Attorney Jennifer Keating, who spoke during a bond hearing Wednesday.
Shortly after McDonald arrived, the victim's 16-year-old sister left the apartment — leaving the 21-year-old victim alone with McDonald, prosecutors said.
The victim went to her room to change her clothes and get the rent money, Keating said.
McDonald entered the bedroom, forced the victim face-down on her bed and raped her, according to prosecutors. After the attack, McDonald went into a bathroom and the victim fled the apartment and went to a friend's house, where she reported the attack, Keating said.
Police arrested McDonald about 9:25 p.m. Sunday inside the victim's apartment, according to an arrest report.
The victim was brought to Advocate Trinity Hospital, where a rape kit was collected, court records show. Additional DNA evidence was collected at the scene, according to Keating.
McDonald, who lives in the 2600 block of West 21st Street in Little Village, was charged with criminal sexual assault using force. Cook County Judge Maria Kuriakos Ciesil on Wednesday ordered him held in lieu of $100,000 bail.
According to Assistant Public Defender Sandra Bennewitz, McDonald works as a forklift driver and lives with his wife and children.
He was previously convicted of residential burglary in 2009; he was sentenced to two years probation. He also has a juvenile conviction for aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. In that case, he received one year probation, officials said.
For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here:
