Joliet handyman convicted of criminal sexual assault against neighbor

December 9

JOLIET – Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow announced today that a jury has found a Joliet man guilty of sexually assaulting his 22-year-old female neighbor in November 2008.

Juan G. Quintero, 44, was convicted on one count of criminal sexual assault and one count of criminal sexual abuse at the conclusion of a three-day trial this week. The jury returned with a guilty verdict after deliberating for one hour on Thursday.

Quintero faces between 4 and15 years in prison when he is sentenced by Associate Judge Edward Burmila on Feb. 23. Under Illinois law, he cannot receive probation for this crime.

The victim, who lives on Joliet’s West Side, testified that she asked Quintero, who was her neighbor and a local handyman, for an estimate on replacing windows at a rental house her mother owns on the city’s East Side. While at the house, the defendant pinned the victim against a wall and attempted to force himself on her until she broke free and ran to her car.

The defendant managed to get into her vehicle, and the distraught and confused victim began to drive home with him in the passenger seat. While on Interstate 80 heading west, Quintero began touching the victim against her will. She testified she could not stop him while she was driving.

“Juan Quintero took advantage of his neighbor’s trust and attempted to force himself on this defenseless woman while they were alone,” said State’s Attorney Glasgow. “These aggressive and unwanted sexual advances will cost him his freedom.”

Assistant State’s Attorneys Adam McAuley and Tricia McKenna prosecuted the case and secured the conviction.