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City Shuts Down Accused Serial Rapist Marc Winner's Tanning Salon

By  Erica Demarest and Stephanie Lulay | May 27, 2016 1:36pm 

 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 — The city shut down a tanning salon owned by a man accused of three rapes after the business failed to renew its license.

Soleil Tanning, 1018 W. Madison St., had been operating without a license since May 15, when it expired.

City officials visited the business May 16 and issued a required 10-day notice that the business was operating without a license. On Friday, the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection issued a cease and desist, forcing the business to close, department spokeswoman Mika Stambaugh confirmed.

The city action came as the salon's owner, Marc Winner, was criminally indicted Friday in his third pending rape case. He has been held at County Jail without bail since late April.

His case will be assigned a trial judge as it moves through the Cook County criminal court system. Winner, 45, previously was criminally indicted in two other rape cases.

The West Loop entrepreneur is accused of raping three women in the last seven years. Each victim was either an employee or customer at Winner's salon.

In the case for which Winner was indicted Friday, his is accused of attacking a 33-year-old customer near his salon on July 18, 2012. Winner offered the woman a free tan before inviting her and several friends back to his nearby apartment, according to a police report.

The victim fell asleep and woke up to find Winner lying on top of her, raping her, court records show. The victim repeatedly said, "No," the police report said. Winner continued to rape the woman, and the victim reported the attack six days later.

Winner previously was indicted in a rape case involving a customer and one involving a former employee.

Though he initially was allowed to go free on bond, Judge Adam Bourgeois Jr. revoked his bond during a hearing in which he called Winner "a danger."

Winner was attacked in the jail earlier this month, city officials said. A fellow inmate hit Winner in the head, and Winner now is being kept in protective custody pending trial.

A woman who claims Winner raped her in 2001 shared her story earlier this year. Winner was arrested for sexual assault in that case, but later convicted of battery.

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

Ald. Danny Solis (25th) previously said Soleil should be shut down, and a nearby condo association asked the alderman to help oust Winner from the neighborhood.

Related:

Accused Rapist Marc Winner Attacked in County Jail, Officials Say

Accused Serial Rapist's Tanning Salon Operating Illegally, City Says

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

Salon Owner Charged In 3 Rape Cases Denied Bail, 'A Danger,' Judge 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