May 01--A 49-year-old River Forest man was charged with sexually assaulting a 30-year-old woman in the West Garfield Park neighborhood Friday.
William Wallace, of the first block of Park Avenue in the western suburb, appeared in court Sunday before Judge Donald Panarese, who ordered him held on $500,000 bail.
The attack took place in the 200 block of North Kilbourn Avenue the night of April 29, according to police and prosecutors.
Around 8:30 p.m., the victim was walking from her car to a relative's home on that block when Wallace grabbed her from behind and forced her to the ground, prosecutors said.
Wallace pinned down the victim and got on top of her. He then pulled down the victim's pants and underwear and touched her with his hands several times, prosecutors said.
He then lifted the victim's shirt and put his mouth on her breasts, prosecutors said, and attempted to kiss her on her mouth.
The victim struggled throughout the attack, biting Wallace and scratching his face, police and prosecutors said.
At some point, an unidentified man who saw the attack came to the victim's aid and kicked Wallace in the head, allowing the victim to run away. Two other men arrived to help the victim while witnesses called police, according to police reports.
Responding officers found Wallace lying on the ground, with his pants open and genitals exposed.
Several people in the area heard or saw parts of the assault, police said, and identified Wallace as the attacker when police arrived.
Prosecutors said Wallace and the victim do not know each other.
Wallace, dressed in a black shirt and pants, said nothing throughout the hearing. He slightly shook his head as prosecutors detailed the allegations, which drew gasps from observers in the courtroom gallery.
Wallace faces two counts of criminal sexual assault and is scheduled to appear in court again Monday.
