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

 West Loop tanning salon owner Marc Winner, who is facing rape charges in two court cases, is also named in a business license discipline case.
West Loop tanning salon owner Marc Winner, who is facing rape charges in two court cases, is also named in a business license discipline case.
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dnainfo/Stephanie Lulay; Chicago Police Department

WEST LOOP — Ald. Danny Solis and condo owners that share a building with a West Loop tanning salon are pushing for the business to be shut down after its owner was charged in three rape cases. 

"The alderman absolutely wants this business out," said Nicole Wellhausen, legislative aide to Solis (25th), whose district includes the salon. 

On Tuesday, the McGuire Condominium Board, which represents condo owners living at 1016 and 1018 W. Madison St., asked Solis to do all he can under the law to close the shop.

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

Marc Winner, 45, has been charged with sexually assaulting three women between 2009 and 2015. Each victim either visited or worked at the salon located in the 1018 W. Madison St. building, court records show.

"We are sickened by the allegations that the owner of the salon, Marc Winner, committed multiple violent rapes of customers and employees of the salon, in our building," the letter from the condo association reads. "Besides these horrendous allegations, owners have had numerous other problems with him in recent years, ranging from allegations of drug dealing at the salon to violations of the city parking code." 

This week, Soleil Tanning was open for business as usual. An employee previously declined to say whether Winner still owns the shop. 

Though Winner was initially released on bond, a Cook County judge on Saturday dubbed the man "a danger" and ordered him held without bail pending trial.

Last week, before Winner was charged in the third rape case, Solis reached out to the city's Business Affairs and Consumer Protection officials to see what could be done to close the business. 

The salon's business license expires on May 15, according to Mika Stambaugh, spokeswoman for the city's Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection. Solis won't push for the existing license to be revoked at this point, but will push for the license not be renewed, his aides said. 

Winner is also named in a pending business license discipline case for debt owed, Stambaugh said last week.  

In November 2015, a Chicago realty company also filed a lawsuit aiming to evict Winner from a River North location, court records show. A hearing that had been scheduled for last Friday in the case was continued.

In October 2014, Winner signed a lease to rent two storefronts at 770 N. LaSalle St. in River North with plans to open businesses in the building, according to court documents. AI Realty officials contend that Winner failed to open the businesses by an agreed upon date, but the firm was also concerned he wouldn't be able to open a business in the future, either, with his mounting legal troubles following his October 2015 arrest.

"Marc Winner has had some publicized legal issues which will undoubtedly impede his ability to do further work," the lawsuit reads. 

Winner was initially charged in October 2015 with raping a 26-year-old client after she visited his West Loop salon in August.

Last week, prosecutors re-filed charges against Winner in a 2013 sexual-assault case that was initially dismissed by a judge during a preliminary hearing. In that case, Winner is accused of raping a former employee in 2009.

And on Friday, prosecutors charged Winner in a third rape case — this one involving a former employee who was allegedly attacked in 2012.

In 2001, Winner was arrested for sexually assaulting a woman named Lesley Barton and eventually convicted of battery in the case, records show. Barton on Friday shared her story with DNAinfo Chicago.

"I am just so sorry that I couldn't stop him," Barton said. "I told everyone what he was going to do. I knew this was going to happen. I prayed it didn't."

According to court records, prosecutors believe Winner has at least two additional possible victims. They have asked possible victims or anyone with information to contact Chicago Police Area Central Sex Crimes Detectives at 312-747-8380.

Related: 

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

West Loop Tanning Salon Owner Marc Winner Charged In 3rd Rape Case

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

 

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