Aug 21, 2008 4:44 pm US/Central
Police: Man Charged With Raping 3-Year-Old
WAUKEGAN, Ill. (STNG) ―
A northwest suburban man is being held on $1 million bond Thursday for allegedly making a videotape of himself sexually assaulting a 3-year-old.
Lake County Circuit Judge Raymond Collins set bond for Andrew J. Pfeifer, 44, of 34557 N. Catherine St. in unincorporated Ingleside, who is charged with one count of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, a Class X felony punishable by up to 30 years in prison, according to a release from the Lake County Sheriff's office.
On Wednesday, a distraught woman appeared at the Round Lake Beach Police Dept. to report that she had found a videotape of her boyfriend having sexual intercourse with one of his 3-year-old relatives, the release said.
The woman told police she found the tape held in a safe. When sheriff's department investigators arrived, they reviewed the videotape and identified the offender as Pfeifer, who was taken into custody at his home without incident, the release said.
According to sheriff's office spokesman Sgt. Christopher Thompson, it is believed the incident took place in 2003. The girl, now 8, is expected to be interviewed by authorities.
With Pfeifer's consent, investigators searched his home and discovered three computer towers, the safe that contained the tape in question and five additional tapes. However, that evidence has not been reviewed.
Additional charges could be added, Thompson said.
Pfeifer is scheduled for a preliminary hearing in Lake County Circuit Court on Tuesday.
"We will continue to look into Pfeifer's past to see if any other incidents of assault on children have taken place," Undersheriff Charles Fagan said in the release. "This is a gut-wrenching case and Pfeifer deserves the stiffest of penalties for his actions."
(Source: Sun-Times News Group Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2008. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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