Jul 20, 2008 1:28 pm US/Central
Ex-Con Charged With Attacking Gold Coast Woman
CHICAGO (STNG) ―
Police now say they're investigating if any other attacks were committed by a career crook who allegedly exposed himself to a Gold Coast woman, knocked her unconscious and called one of her friends with a cell phone he stole from the victim.
James Castaldo was charged with criminal sexual abuse, armed robbery, aggravated battery and weapons and drug violations in the July 15 incident.
On Saturday, Cook County Circuit Court Judge Ramon Ocasio set bond at $500,000, according to a Cook County Circuit Court clerk.
Judge Ocasio also ordered Castaldo held without bond for violating the conditions of his bail in connection with a 2007 incident in which he was accused of using a woman's credit cards, according to the clerk.
Castaldo's latest attack was caught on video surveillance, and Belmont Area detectives who worked both cases were able to immediately connect the two incidents, police said.
Castaldo is accused of sneaking up behind a woman who was going into her Gold Coast apartment building near Clark and Schiller streets, forcing himself in and then sexually abusing her, police said. Castaldo also allegedly hit her over the head with a blunt object and stole her wallet, cell phones and keys, police said.
Castaldo struck the woman on the head with a flashlight and kicked her while she was on the floor, according to Assistant Cook County State's Attorney Mary Ann Planey. The woman's skull was fractured following the attack.
In Tuesday's attack, police recovered the woman's keys during a search of Castaldo's home. They also found marijuana, a .380-caliber handgun and bloody clothing, Planey said. She added that Castaldo was captured on the building's surveillance camera and was identified in a lineup.
At the time of the attack, Castaldo was free on bond stemming from his July 2007 arrest for allegedly using credit cards stolen from a Lake View woman.
James Castaldo was charged last August with unlawful use of a credit card and other charges after police found he had been using the credit card of a woman who had been attacked in her Lake View home.
That case is still pending in Cook County court, and Castaldo had posted bond.
Castaldo was never charged in the 2007 attack, but he was always a suspect, law enforcement sources said.
Police arrested him near his North Side home Thursday morning.
Castaldo is a six-time felon with convictions ranging from burglary to illegal gun possession.
Castaldo will appear for a preliminary hearing at North Felony Court (Br. 42) on July 24 at 9 a.m.
(Source: Sun-Times News Group Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2006. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
Get More From cbs2chicago.com
