Timothy Harte (Cook County Sheriff’s Police Department photo).
Bond has been set at $100,000 for a northern Illinois man who admitted that he molested a nine-year-old girl a decade ago, Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart announced Friday.
Timothy Harte, 40, of the 26700 block of West Woodland Avenue in Antioch, IL, has been charged with predatory criminal sexual assault of a child.
The Cook County Sheriff’s Police Child Exploitation Unit began investigating after the victim contacted officers in late June. The victim, now 18, told police Harte began assaulting her when she was nine years old, when he lived in the basement of her parents’ Elgin home. The molestation began in 2001, and continued for approximately one year. According to the victim, Harte took advantage of her when her parents weren’t around, joining in play activities with her in order to gain her trust. The victim recently came forward because she said she does not want Harte to hurt any other children.
After interviewing witnesses and family members, investigators charged Harte on July 12th. Harte, who was 30 at the time of the offense, gave a written statement admitting that he engaged in sexual acts with the victim. He received a $100,000 bond on July 14th, and has been ordered to have no contact with any children, including his own.
Harte’s next court date is August 4th in Rolling Meadows.