March 01--A Chicago man was ordered held without bail Saturday on charges of repeatedly molesting four young members of his extended family over a five-year period, prosecutors said.
Jesus J. Maldonado, 53, is charged with predatory criminal sexual assault of two girls and aggravated criminal sexual abuse of two others. The girls were between 6 and 9 years old when Maldonado began molesting them, prosecutors said.
Maldonado fled to Mexico this month after the relatives confided in each other about the attacks and told another family member, according to Cook County Assistant State's Attorney Elizabeth Novy.
He was arrested Friday at O'Hare upon his return, Novy said.
Maldonado sexually assaulted two of the girls multiple times between June 2002 and January 2004 according to Novy. He sexually abused the other two girls between January 2003 and September 2005, Novy said.
Cook County Judge Laura Sullivan asked Maldonado in court Saturday if he wished for the Mexican consulate to be notified of the charges, and he said "no." The status of his citizenship was not made clear in court Saturday.
Maldonado, of the 5900 block of West 55th Street, is scheduled to appear in court again March 3.
