Sex Offender On Pretrial Release Accused Of Sexually Assaulting Teen In Western Suburbs

WEST CHICAGO, IL — A registered sex offender who was on probation faces felony charges after prosecutors say he prevented a girl, 16, from leaving his West Chicago home, took her phone and forced her to give him oral sex.

According to prosecutors, Joseph Simmons, 26, had been granted pretrial release after prior burglary charges.

Simmons was charged with two counts of criminal sexual abuse in connection with the early April incident.

According to a news release, the teen had been missing for three days when she was found at a gas station in West Chicago on April 7. Prosecutors say the girl had traveled to West Chicago on April 4 to meet up with Simmons, whom she had first met in November of last year.

Prosecutors say Simmons would not let the girl go home when she told him she wanted to leave. He is then accused of taking away her cellphone and forcing her to give him fellatio.

On April 7, prosecutors say, Simmons took the teen to another West Chicago home, which she fled on foot.

Following an investigation, police spotted Simmons in a car that was previously reported stolen. He is accused of trying to flee on foot and climb over a barbed wire fence.

“The allegations against Mr. Simmons are extremely alarming,” DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said in a statement.

Berlin added, “The safety and well-being of our children remains a top priority of my administration, and my office stands ready to prosecute, to the fullest extent of the law, anyone accused of the type of behavior alleged against Mr. Simmons."

Simmons is currently being held in DuPage County Jail and is set to appear in court May 19.