Pre-trial release was denied for a man, who was out on bond in a shooting case, accused of sexually abusing a missing child from North Carolina and keeping her at his Green Oaks home for weeks.
The United States Marshals Service received information on Tuesday about the location of a missing 15-year-old girl from Kannapolis, North Carolina.
The U.S. Marshals learned the girl was possibly located at a house in the 31000 block of Prairie Ridge Road in Green Oaks, according to Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli.
The United States Marshals Service informed the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Chicago Field Office and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
Members of HSI, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division and the Lake County Sheriff’s Special Investigations Group conducted an immediate investigation, Covelli said.
The investigation produced evidence showing the girl was confirmed to be at the Green Oaks residence.
A search warrant was obtained for the residence on Wednesday.
Covelli said detectives set up surveillance at the home and Andrew W. Szech, 43, who resides at the house, was seen leaving with the victim around 4 p.m.
Detectives apprehended Szech and rescued the victim, Covelli said.
A further investigation revealed that Szech allegedly began communicating with the victim online in June.
He encouraged the victim to take a bus from her home to Chicago in early July, Covelli said.
Szech picked the teenager up from the Chicago bus station and took her to his home in Green Oaks where he sexually abused her, Covelli said.
The girl had been at Szech’s home for a few weeks.
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office Children’s Advocacy Center assisted in the investigation.
A search warrant was conducted at Szech’s home and detectives recovered a firearm, over 2,700 grams of cannabis, nearly 30 grams of psilocybin-laced candy, over 55 grams of psilocybin mushrooms, 27 cannabis plants and over 55 Adderall pills.
Covelli said the victim is safe away from her abuser and has been placed in care.
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office approved charges of three counts of criminal sexual abuse, unlawful possession of psilocybin mushrooms with intent to deliver, unlawful possession of cannabis with intent to deliver, unlawful possession of cannabis, unlawful possession of Adderall with intent to deliver, aggravated battery, unlawful possession of cannabis plants, two counts of aggravated unlawful possession of a firearm, reckless conduct and aggravated assault.
Additional charges are expected. The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to detain Szech in custody while awaiting trial.
A detention hearing was held Friday afternoon and prosecutors informed the court that Szech had agreed to be detained pending trial.
Lake County Judge Theodore Potkonjak signed an order denying pre-trial release to Szech and remanding him to the Lake County Jail pending trial.
“There is not much worse than exploiting a vulnerable child. We will go to all lengths to rescue children and victims from trafficking and sexual abuse,” Lake County Sheriff John Idleburg said.
“I am so thankful this child is safe and can begin to receive the assistance and help she needs to begin healing from this terrible situation. I am thankful for the strong collaboration our Office has with our federal and local partners, which led to this rescue and prosecution,” Idleburg said.
Court records show Szech was out on bond in a pending Lake County case at the time of his arrest.
Szech, a convicted felon, had posted 10% of a $300,000 bond in July 2023 after being charged with reckless discharge of a firearm and felon in possession of a firearm.
Szech was accused in the prior case of firing a gun at a group of people near his residence in Green Oaks and then lying to investigators about being robbed by the group.
“First, we are satisfied with the fact that this defendant will be detained. Second, we are supporting the victim in every way possible with local and national resources. Third, I want to thank the work of the Children’s Advocacy Center, Lake County Sheriff’s Department, and federal authorities for their thorough investigation,” Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart said after the Friday court hearing.
“Under the SAFE-T act, our prosecutors are now able to seek detention, which, if granted, should keep the defendant in custody the entire time the case is pending. Because of today’s order, he will be unable to use any cash whatsoever to be released. Our Special Victims’ Unit and victim support specialists will hold this offender accountable, further isolate him from the community, and support the victim in the short term and long term,” Rinehart said.
Szech is scheduled to appear in court again on August 20 for a preliminary hearing.