11-Jul-20 – Chicago police say they have arrested a man accused of sexually assaulting a woman in River North on July 4.

Juan Sanchez, age 37, is accused of robbing a 36-year-old woman near North Rush Street & East Huron Street, then forcing her into the back seat of a minivan and assaulting her. He was arrested on July 8 and charged with sexual assault, kidnapping, and robbery.

The victim was able to memorize much of the license plate number of her attacker’s van, which helped police track it down within days.

At a bond hearing on July 10, Assistant State’s Attorney James Murphy said the victim was walking to a doctor’s appointment at about 7:13 a.m. on July 4 when Sanchez stepped in front of her, told her he had a gun, and demanded money.

After the woman handed over her wallet, according to Murphy, Sanchez (left) told her to get into his van and drove to a nearby alley, where he assaulted her. Then he took the woman’s phone and unlocked the doors. The woman got away from Sanchez, said Murphy, and was able to borrow a phone from a passerby to call police.

Police Observation Device cameras spotted the van on July 8 in the 5200 block of North Lincoln Avenue. Sanchez was taken into custody and identified by the woman attacked on July 4 as well as three other women who reported lewd behavior by a man in a white minivan on the North Side.

Associate Judge Mary Marubio called Sanchez “a real and present threat to women” and ordered him held without bail.

Sanchez lives in the 1900 block of North Mozart Street, located northwest of the Loop. According to state records, he has served time for burglary, robbery, narcotics, and possession of a stolen motor vehicle.