Man pleads guilty to series of sexual assaults along I&M Canal

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May 16

JOLIET – Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow announces that a man who raped three women on the I&M Canal path two years ago pleaded guilty to aggravated criminal sexual assault on Wednesday.

Miguel Luna, 37, faces between 32 and 80 years in prison when he is sentenced by Judge David Carlson on July 16, 2016.

Luna attacked the first victim between Brandon Road and Larkin Avenue on Sept. 6, 2015. In this case, Luna jumped off a bike, tackled the woman from behind, dragged her into the woods, and tied her up. He repeatedly sexually assaulting the victim during the more than 90 minutes he held her captive.

Another woman was attacked near the I&M Canal path in a similar manner around 8 a.m. on May 21, 2016 while she was running along the Frontage Road near Interstate 55. The defendant, who was wearing a ski mask, sunglasses, and surgical gloves, grabbed the victim from behind, put her into a chokehold, and tied her hands with shoelaces under the I-55 viaduct. He sexually assaulted her and left her tied under the viaduct . She was able to free herself.

In both cases, he indicated he was armed with a knife, but he never brandished one.

The suspect was identified during the investigation of a sexual assault of another woman that occurred on May 18, 2016. The defendant, who also knew this woman’s friend, tied up his victim and sexually assaulted her in a secluded area near Brandon Road. The victim’s friend later identified Luna for police. After Luna was identified in connection with this case, his DNA would conclusively link him to the other two sexual assaults.

The third victim, however, recently died; charges related to her case were dropped in exchange for his guilty plea in the other two cases. Luna pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault.

“Miguel Luna is in this country illegally. This ruthlessly violent sexual predator should never have had the opportunity to brutally prey upon these innocent young women,” State’s Attorney Glasgow said. “He terrorized our community by repeatedly committing the most vicious sexual assaults against unsuspecting women in an historic area that people from throughout the region safely enjoy for recreation.” 

Luna was living in the 1400 block of Winifred Street in Joliet. Assistant State’s Attorney Mary Fillipitch secured the guilty plea.