A landlord has been arrested for allegedly sexually abusing one of his tenants at a rental home near Grayslake and then later apologizing for his actions, prosecutors said.
Donald J. Hertel, 75, of Grayslake, was charged with criminal sexual abuse by force and battery making physical contact.
The incident happened in the morning hours on July 27 at a residence on North Bacon Road in unincorporated Grayslake.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Mary Vukovich said Hertel went to his rental property, which is being rented by a woman.
The woman was inside the residence with the back door open. Hertel walked in uninvited with two grocery bags, Vukovich said.
He asked the woman how she was doing because one of her family members had been recently murdered.
Vukovich said Hertel grabbed the woman and put his tongue in the woman’s mouth.
He grabbed her breasts under her shirt and the woman asked Hertel to stop, Vukovich said.
Vukovich said Hertel continued grabbing and twisting the woman’s breasts and also pulled on the victim’s arms and shirt.
The woman told Hertel to stop because she was in a fragile state.
Vukovich said Hertel grabbed and pulled the victim close to him, at which point she felt his genitals pushed up against her body.
The victim continued to fight to get the man to let go of her, Vukovich said. He left the residence and she called 911.
Vukovich said Hertel called the woman seven times and left a voicemail saying he wanted to apologize.
A court-authorized overhear was conducted and Hertel apologized for his actions while saying the woman had “nice breasts” and he did not think they were real, Vukovich said.
Vukovich said the man also admitted to trying to kiss the woman.
Hertel was taken into custody after he showed up at the residence the next day.
Lake County Judge Theodore Potkonjak granted a petition to detain Hertel pending trial after agreeing with prosecutors he is a real and present threat to the victim.
“As far as the apology, it’s not really an apology when you call up and say ‘I’m sorry’ but then he starts commenting on her physical attributes, that’s not really an apology,” the judge said.
Hertel is scheduled to appear in court again on August 29 for a status of preliminary hearing.