Former ‘Trusted Uncle’ Pleads Guilty To Child Sexual Abuse

NORTH AURORA, IL — Just before a jury trial was set to begin, a North Aurora man pleaded guilty to four felony charges related to the sexual abuse of four victims from the late 1990s to 2017, according to the Kendall County State's Attorney's Office.

State's Attorney Eric Weis announced Thursday that Jaime Reyes, 70, pleaded guilty to three counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse and one count of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child. Judge Jody Gleason proceeded to sentence him to 30 years in prison in a negotiated plea agreement.

The Kendall County Sheriff's Office began investigating Reyes, whose address is listed as being in the 300 block of South Lincolnway Street, when one of the victims came forward about sexual abuse. Detectives learned Reyes was "the trusted uncle and occasional babysitter for the four victims" whose abuse began when they were between the ages of 5 and 7, officials said.

The abuse occurred at multiple addresses in Kendall County and one in Kane County across more than two decades.

"Reyes would isolate the young victims and would take advantage of his position of trust until they reached the age of puberty," Weis said in a news release.

He was arrested in early 2022 after charges were approved, and he remained in custody since. The cases were scheduled for a jury trial in November when Reyes attempted to harm himself while in custody, officials said.

Based on his age and health condition, Reyes will serve the rest of his life in prison — without the victims having to testify in court, according to Weis, who prosecuted the case along with Assistant State's Attorney Jennifer Cusack. Reyes was represented by a public defender.

"There is no doubt that the world is a safer place with Reyes being in custody," Weis said. "For years, he took advantage of the trust that his family members had in him to supervise and take care of their young children. He preyed on those who were sometimes too young to even understand what was happening. He is a true predator. My hope is that the victims have some comfort in knowing that Reyes will remain in custody forever. I also want to commend the bravery of the victims for coming forward so that this dangerous person can never do this again to anyone."