March 15--A man has been found guilty of sexual assaulting a 14-year-old girl whose family he was staying with in McHenry County.
Miguel Gomez, 37, was convicted Monday and now faces nine to 33 years in prison as well as deportation to Mexico.
Authorities said Gomez was undocumented and was living with the family in southwestern McHenry County when he assaulted the girl last April. He was also accused of sending her pornographic images via cellphone in the months prior and found guilty of grooming along with criminal sexual assault, authorities said.
Gomez was due to stand trial on the charges this week. But in a somewhat unusual move, he acknowledged the basic facts of the allegations against him, without pleading guilty, and was then convicted by Judge Sharon Prather.
Some lesser charges were dropped against Gomez but that did not affect the sentencing range, Assistant State's Attorney John Gibbons said.
Amanda Marrazzo is a freelance reporter.
