Police rescued two children after one of them called 911 to report a man, who was reportedly armed with a firearm, picked them up and sexually assaulted one of them near Antioch Saturday.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office responded around 3:15 a.m. Saturday to the 40200 block of North Bonham Court in unincorporated Antioch after receiving a 911 call.
Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli said the caller reported that George Soriano, 25, who lives at the residence, picked her and a friend up at their home in Wisconsin.
Soriano drove the girls to his home on Bonham Court where he sexually assaulted one of the girls, a 13-year-old, Covelli said.
Both victims were rescued by sheriff’s deputies and transported to an area hospital for evaluations.
A further investigation revealed Soriano met the girls on a social media application, Covelli said.
Covelli said Soriano communicated with the victims on social media early Saturday morning and made a plan to pick them up.
The girls told deputies they were fearful of Soriano because he had a firearm.
Covelli said it is possible Soriano previously met in person with at least one of the juvenile victims.
Sheriff’s detectives conducted a search warrant at Soriano’s home and located a cannabis growing operation.
A firearm was also recovered in the home.
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office reviewed the case and approved two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse and one count of traveling to meet a minor.
Additional charges are possible against Soriano.
Soriano remains held in the Lake County Jail pending an initial court hearing Sunday morning.