Joliet Man Faces Up To 21 Years In Prison For Abusing 14-Year-Old Girl

JOLIET, IL — A 31-year-old Joliet man faces up to 21 years in prison after a jury recently found him guilty of sexually abusing a then-14-year-old girl in 2017, the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office announced.

Mario Chavez was convicted of three counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse against the girl and faces sentencing on Nov. 30. The sentencing range is probation or 3 to 7 years in prison for each count, State’s Attorney James Glasgow said.

The Will County Children’s Advocacy Center was established by Glasgow in 1995 to provide services and advocacy to children who are victims of sexual abuse and severe physical abuse. Forensic interviews of children are conducted at the CAC after there has been a report to law enforcement or DCFS of severe physical abuse, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, child pornography, neglect, or exposure to violence.

The CAC uses a collaborative approach to taking a child’s statement with multi-disciplinary team members that include law enforcement, mental health professionals, prosecution, and child protective services (DCFS), with the child telling their story once to a trained forensic interviewer who asks the questions in a non-leading manner in a way that does not re-traumatize the child. The system protects the integrity of the information gathered and allows prosecutors and investigators to thoroughly assess possible criminal offenses that may have been committed, the news release said.

Annually, the Will County CAC serves more than 700 children who have endured physical and sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, child pornography, neglect, and exposure to violence, Glasgow said.