COOK COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTHOUSE — The West Loop tanning salon owner accused of raping three women could face additional rape charges in coming weeks, prosecutors said Friday.
Marc Winner, 45, has been charged with raping three women from 2009 to 2015. Each alleged victim was an employee or customer at Winner's tanning salon, Soleil, which was shuttered by the city last month for operating without a license.
During a court hearing Friday, Assistant State's Attorney Mikki Miller said prosecutors have identified three additional possible rape victims.
Two of the women's cases are beyond the statute of limitations for filing charges, Miller said, but the third case is viable. Prosecutors plan to interview the woman, who now lives out of state, and try to take the case through the felony review process in coming weeks.
"The state does hope to file charges in what will be a fourth case," Miller said.
Miller spoke Friday at a bond hearing, which was held before Cook County Judge Carol M. Howard inside the Leighton Criminal Courthouse, 2600 S.California Ave.
Winner has been held without bail since April 29, when he was arrested and charged in the third of three pending rape cases. Before that, he was free on $500,000 bond and ordered to adhere to a curfew and wear an electronic-monitoring bracelet.
Winner's attorney, Steven J. Weinberg, on Friday asked Judge Howard to reinstate the $500,000 bond so that Winner may go home.
"Could he walk out of the courtroom ... and be charged in another case?" Judge Howard asked, referencing Winner's April 29 arrest for his third rape case, which happened just outside her courtroom.
That's when Miller said the state had identified additional possible victims and was hoping to file charges in a fourth rape case.
Weinberg argued that Winner "is entitled to be out on bond" since Winner has never missed a court appearance and always complied with his initial electronic monitoring. Additionally, Weinberg said, the judge didn't have to worry about Winner returning to his tanning salon at 1018 W. Madison St. since it was shuttered by the city.
"He has lost his business," Weinberg said. "He cannot go back to it and operate a tanning salon."
Judge Howard said she would rule on the bond motion at Winner's next court date, July 20. Until then, Winner will remain in county custody inside Cook County Jail.
According to jail officials, Winner has been kept in protective custody since early May, when he was attacked by a fellow inmate. Winner, who appeared in court Friday donning an orange jumpsuit, needed five staples to his head, Weinberg said.
Judge Howard on Friday said she hopes to begin trying Winner's cases by end of the year. Prosecutors were ordered to "expedite" their discovery process.
Related:
• City Shuts Down Accused Serial Rapist Marc Winner's Tanning Salon
• 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
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