Feb. 14--A 33-year-old man is accused of sexually assaulting his ex-girlfriend Thursday and then setting fire to a bathroom while she fled.
Nathan Nissenbaum, of the 400 block of West Wrightwood Avenue, is still hospitalized but his case was before Judge James Brown who set bail at $1 million during a hearing Friday afternoon at the Leighton Criminal Court building.
A Chicago Police officer informed Judge Brown that Nissenbaum is undergoing a psychiatric evaluation at Presence Saints Mary and Elizabeth Medical Center after a possible suicide attempt.
Nissenbaum "disguised himself" and donned sunglasses in order to gain entry to a home in the 2100 block of North Hoyne Avenue about 10:30 a.m. Thursday, said Asst. State's Attorney Sarah Karr.
Nissenbaum restrained the 26-year-old victim with handcuffs and duct tape, hit her, choked her and sexually assaulted her, Karr said.
After the victim was able to free herself and flee, she called her fianc鬠Karr said. Authorities were alerted and Nissenbaum was arrested later the same day.
Nissenbaum also set fire to the home, burning bathroom towels and causing smoke damage, Karr said.
Nissenbaum had violated a prior order that he was not to have contact with her, officials said in court. Nissenbaum and the woman were in a relationship but had broken up in 2014, Karr said.
Since 2012, Nissenbaum has been arrested for domestic-related incidents before -- twice for battery and once for criminal damage to property -- but the cases were dropped when the complaining witness declined to appear in court, records show.
Brown set his next court date to March 3.
