Elgin Man Skips Trial, Found Guilty Of Child Sex Assault

ELGIN, IL — An arrest warrant has been issued for an Elgin man who authorities said failed to appear in court Thursday for his trial for sexually assaulting a child he knew. According to the Kane County State's Attorney's office, 37-year-old Mario Piñeda, of the 1-99 block of South DuBois Avenue in Elgin, faces a lengthy prison sentence after he was convicted on sexual assault charges Thursday despite being absent from his trial. A Kane County jury found Piñeda guilty of seven counts of felony predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, and two counts of felony aggravated criminal sexual abuse, according to the state's attorney's office.

Piñeda had been free on $20,000 bond and last appeared in court for a Sept. 20 hearing, officials said. He did not show up for a Jan. 9 hearing, and Kane County Associate Judge Charles E. Petersen issued a warrant for his arrest, according to the state's attorney's office.

Kane County Assistant State’s Attorneys Matt Rodgers and Lori Schmidt presented evidence during the four-day trial claiming on several occasions during 2016 Piñeda sexually assaulted the victim, who was younger than 13 years old.

According to the state's attorney's office, the victim told her parents about the assaults, and her father made a report to the police.

Judge Petersen set Piñeda’s next court appearance for March 26 at the Kane County Judicial Center, according to the state's attorney's office. He faces a minimum sentence of 42 years in prison in the Illinois Department of Corrections, and must register for life as a sexual offender in accordance with the Illinois Sexual Offender Registration Act, according to the state's attorney's office.

“I’m proud of this victim for showing the strength to tell her story at her abuser’s trial," Kane County State’s Attorney Joe McMahon said, according to the state's attorney's office. "Her courage towers over that of Mr. Piñeda, who fled like a coward instead of owning up to his selfish crimes. My thanks to ASAs Rodgers and Schmidt and to the Kane County Child Advocacy Center staff for their work in this case.”

Anyone with information on Piñeda's whereabouts should call the Kane County Child Advocacy Center at 63o-208-5160.