COOK COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTHOUSE — A South Side woman was sexually attacked leaving work Monday, prosecutors said.
The 48-year-old woman was just finishing a shift at Currency Exchange, 148 W. Garfield Blvd., when 19-year-old Kendal Hunter walked into the store about 6:45 p.m. Monday, authorities said.
The woman recognized Hunter as someone who'd been loitering outside the store for months, according to Assistant State's Attorney Kristin Estrada, who spoke during a bond hearing Friday.
Hunter began making lewd comments, prosecutors said, and told the woman he wanted to have sex with her. Hunter wasn't conducting any business at the store and refused to leave, according to authorities.
When the woman left work and walked toward her car, Hunter followed her outside, prosecutors said. He reportedly tried to grab the woman's buttocks, but she slapped away his hand.
At that point, prosecutors said, Hunter smacked the woman, causing her to drop her belongings. He then groped the woman over her clothing and only stopped when a good Samaritan asked the victim if she was okay, Estrada said.
As the woman told her manager about the attack the following morning, Hunter walked into the Currency Exchange, prosecutors said. He told the manager "he was just playing around" and left when the manager called 911.
Hunter returned to the store Wednesday and the manager again called 911, prosecutors said. This time, police were able to arrest Hunter, who could be seen on surveillance video following the woman as she left work Monday, Estrada said.
Hunter is charged with criminal sexual abuse.
Cook County Judge Adam Bourgeois Jr. on Friday set bail at $1 million.
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