A Lake in the Hills man was arrested after officials say he sexually assaulted a girl for years, starting when she was seven, and also sexually assaulted a second child in McHenry County.
Michael Montero, 35, of Lake in the Hills, was charged with five counts of predatory criminal sexual assault, a Class X felony, and two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, a Class 2 felony.
The Lake in the Hills Police Department began investigating Montero at the end of January when a 10-year-old girl came forward.
Prosecutors said that the child reported Montero, who is a family member, had been sexually abusing her since she was approximately 7 years old.
The child underwent a forensic interview shortly after where she detailed the abuse she had been enduring for several years.
It was discovered during the investigation that Montero had also sexually assaulted another child in March 2024, prosecutors said.
That victim was visiting Montero in Cary while on spring break from school.
A forensic interview was conducted with the child and similar allegations against Montero were disclosed, prosecutors said.
The investigation was handled by the Lake in the Hills Police Department and McHenry County Sheriff’s Office, which were aided by the Child Advocacy Center of McHenry County.
McHenry County State’s Attorney Randi Freese called the children “two young, brave victims” and lauded the work of law enforcement.
The public is urged to file a police report by contacting their local law enforcement agency or the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office if they are aware of similar crimes committed by Montero.
Montero appeared in Initial Appearance Court on Friday where the state’s attorney’s office filed petitions to detain him pending trial in the two cases.
McHenry County Judge Cynthia Lamb granted the petitions and found that there were no conditions of release that could mitigate the real and present threat that Montero poses to the victims and the community.
He is scheduled to appear in court again on February 20.