Man Accused Of Sexually Assaulting Child In Round Lake Beach

By Sam Borcia, Lake & McHenry County Scanner

A Lake Villa man is being held on a $1 million bond after he was charged with sexually assaulting a child under the age of 13 in Round Lake Beach, court records show.

Cristian Zuniga-Mendoza, 23, of Lake Villa, was charged with one count of predatory criminal sexual assault, a Class X felony.

Zuniga-Mendoza engaged in sexual acts with a juvenile victim on several occasions, according to Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Mary Daly.

The incidents occurred between June and September.

The mother of the victim became suspicious of Zuniga-Mendoza and went through the girl’s phone, Daly said.

She found text messages and photos between Zuniga-Mendoza and the child that were sexual in nature.

The victim, who was under 13 at the time of the offenses, reported that she engaged in a “sexual relationship” with Zuniga-Mendoza, Daly said.

The case was investigated by the Round Lake Beach Police Department, court records show.

An arrest warrant carrying a $250,000 bond was issued in October and the man was taken into custody last month.

Lake County Judge Theodore Potkonjak ordered Zuniga-Mendoza held on a $1 million bond, noting that the defendant is a flight risk.

The charge against Zuniga-Mendoza is a Class X felony, which means it carries a prison sentence of six to 30 years in prison if convicted.

Zuniga-Mendoza remains held in the Lake County Jail and would need to post $100,000 cash to be released.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 14.

Lake and McHenry County Scanner is a local breaking news website covering issues that matter such as shootings, stabbings, house fires, kidnappings, car accidents, and more around Lake County and McHenry County.