Man Accused Of Sexually Assaulting Young Child

The Lake & McHenry County Scanner

By Sam Borcia | December 17, 2020 5:41 p.m.

A man was arrested and charged with sexually assaulting his girlfriend’s young child over the span of a year and a half in Round Lake Heights, police said.

Ian Eric Lona, 37, of the 1400 block of Meyer Street in Elgin, was charged with 10 counts of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, one count of aggravated criminal sexual abuse and one count of sexual exploitation of a child.

Round Lake Heights Police Chief John Roehlk said the victim, who is now 8 years old, reported the assaults to the Department of Children and Family Services during an unrelated investigation in June.

Police investigators worked with the victim, medical personnel and the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office to develop the criminal case.

The suspect was identified as the boyfriend of the victim’s mother, Roehlk said. The incidents occurred over a span of 18 months and date back to early 2019.

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The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office approved the 12 charges against Lona on December 11.

Police arrested the man on Monday at his residence in Elgin and transported him to the Lake County jail.

Lona remains held on a $500,000 bond and will need to post $50,000 to be released. He is scheduled to appear in court again on January 14 for a preliminary hearing.

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.