Man Sexually Assaulted Child Relative For Years: DeKalb Police

DEKALB, IL — A man faces multiple felony charges after repeatedly sexually assaulting a girl to whom he is related over the course of several years, according to DeKalb police.

Thomas Lenker, 39, was arrested Thursday and charged with predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, aggravated criminal sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of a child, police said.

The girl’s mother contacted police Nov. 6 to report that her daughter — who is under 12 years old — was sexually assaulted by Lenker on April 7, according to police. Lenker forced the child to perform sexual acts in April, police said, adding that Lenker had performed similar sexual acts with the girl on several other occasions, including when she was as young as 6.