A judge has ordered a man held on a $10 million bond after prosecutors allege he sexually assaulted a child relative “hundreds of times” over the span of years near Round Lake.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Russell Caskey said the victim, who is now in her early teens, came forward Friday and reported to her school counselor that a relative of hers had been sexually abusing her.
The relative was identified as Mcred Valderama, 36, of the 24500 block of West Passavant Avenue in unincorporated Round Lake.
The allegations were reported to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and the girl was interviewed.
She reported that the assaults occurred at a Round Lake home and her clearest, oldest memory of them was when she was in the fourth grade, Caskey said.
The victim reported that Valderama told her to keep what was happening a secret. She thought what was happening was normal until she got older, Caskey said.
The assaults allegedly occurred almost daily throughout her early school years leading up until high school — a span of at least four years.
“We’re talking about hundreds of incidents,” Caskey said during a Saturday bond hearing.
Valderama said he was not a United States citizen, at which point Caskey said he believed the man was a flight risk after asking Lake County Judge Bolling Haxall to impose a $1 million bond.
Assistant Public Defender Divina Ayala asked the court to impose a low cash bond.
Haxall, who said the charges could lead to a life sentence, ordered Valderama held on a $10 million bond after noting the man is a flight risk due to the seriousness of the charges.
Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli said detectives obtained “significant evidence” substantiating the allegations during their investigation.
Detectives located Valderama at his residence and arrested him without incident on Friday.
Valderama was charged with four counts of predatory sexual assault of a child, which is a Class X felony, criminal sexual assault and aggravated criminal sexual abuse.
Records show Valderama is also a registered Violent Offender Against Youth after being convicted of battering a 7-year-old child in 2012.
“We have zero tolerance for those who prey on our most vulnerable. I am proud of our detectives for their thorough investigation and rapid apprehension of this offender. We are hopeful the victim can begin healing from the abuse she endured,” Sheriff John Idleburg said following the arrest.
Valderama would need to post $1 million cash in order to be released. He is scheduled to appear in court again on September 21.