Gurnee Child Sex Abuse Case: More Victims, Bond Increases To $500k

By Sam Borcia, the Lake & McHenry County Scanner | May 15, 2021 3:00 pm

A Round Lake Park man charged with sexually abusing juveniles in Gurnee in exchange for vape materials and cannabis was arrested during a court hearing after a judge doubled his bond.

Isai J. Gonzaga, 26, of the 400 block of Brierhill Road in Round Lake Park, attended an in-person court hearing Thursday after previously posting 10% of his $250,000 bond.

Defense attorney Alana DeLeon said in court that Gonzaga could only afford to pay an additional $500 toward a higher bond.

DeLeon said that Gonzaga, who is a Zion-Benton Township High School graduate, had no previous arrests and did well on a pretrial risk assessment.

She also said he was living at home with his parents and siblings, and suggested that electronic monitoring and continued in-person hearings would allow the court to “keep tabs on him.”

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Assistant State’s Attorney Mary Stanton requested the bond increase after an additional victim came forward.

Stanton argued for a significant bond increase and said that the original bond did not reflect the 10 counts recently added due to the third victim.

After hearing from both sides, Shanes ruled that he was doubling Gonzaga’s bail to $500,000, noting that while he is presumed innocent, the charges against him involve multiple victims.

“The nature of the charges is quite serious. You are charged with 26 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse,” Shanes said. “(Even) One count is a serious charge.”

Gonzaga left in handcuffs to be processed at the Lake County Jail. He is charged with 26 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse.

The Gurnee Police Department began an investigation into Gonzaga after receiving suspicious behavior tips that he was selling vaping materials to minors.

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Detectives learned he would trade the vaping materials and marijuana edibles in exchange for sexual acts or sexually explicit images and videos through Snapchat, according to Gurnee Police Department Spokeswoman Shawn Gaylor.

The investigation revealed multiple victims between the ages of 13 and 17 years old.

Gonzaga would pick up the victims and drive them to a secondary location for the exchange, Gaylor said.

Anyone with further information about the case should contact the Gurnee Police Department at 847-599-7000.

Lake and McHenry County Scanner is a local breaking news website covering issues that matter such as shootings, stabbings, house fires, kidnappings, car accidents, and more around Lake County and McHenry County.