Police: Man Molested Girl At Peterson Avenue Target
Updated: 10/19/10 2:55 p.m.
CHICAGO (CBS) - A man has been charged with criminal sexual abuse, after police say he molested a girl in the Target store in the West Rogers Park neighborhood.
Loreto Gaspar, 68, of the 1700 block of West Balmoral Avenue, was charged Monday evening with one count of aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a minor after he was positively identified using security video and interviews with security personnel and photo lineups, according to a police News Affairs release.
About 5:25 p.m. on Oct. 7, the man entered the Target store at 2112 W. Peterson Ave., according to a community alert from Rogers Park District police that was released the day following the attack.
Once inside, the man spoke with the victim and her mother in the food court. The mother and her children went on to shop, with the man walking in another direction. The man approached the girl, the alert said, and inappropriately touched her genital area over her clothing.
The girl immediately told her mother and the man fled, getting into a red automobile and taking off in an unknown direction.
The sprawling and bustling Target store is located directly across from Rosehill Cemetery, on the former site of an old Venture/K-Mart store. Serving motorists on the main route between Lake Shore Drive and the Edens Expressway, the store is busy at all times of day.
Bond was set at $10,000 cash on Tuesday for Gaspar, and a preliminary hearing was set for Nov. 8, Cook County State's Attorney's office spokesman Andy Conklin said.
The Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this report.
