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Rape Victim’s Family Sues County Probation Dept.

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Acurie Collier

Acurie Collier

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Updated 1/26/11 10:48 p.m.

CHICAGO (CBS) – A family is suing Cook County authorities, after a convicted sex offender sexually assaulted their teenage daughter while out of jail despite having violated probation.


The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court on behalf of the girl’s mother, against Cook County Chief Probation Officer Jesus Reyes, and the sexual assault suspect, Acurie Collier.

The girl’s mother called 911, then entered the girl’s bedroom and was able to restrain Collier by the limbs before he was arrested, the lawsuit said.

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Collier, 36, allegedly sexually assaulted the 13-year-old girl on July 30, 2010, after getting her home address during online chats were he posed as a young boy, according to the lawsuit. The Stickney man forced his way into their home on the city’s South Side, authorities said.

The Illinois Policy Institute discovered in December that at the time of the attack, Collier had been on probation for a charge of aggravated criminal sexual assault. He was being supervised by the probation department’s Adult Sexual Offender Program, authorities said.

An investigation determined that Collier violated his probation at least 17 and possibly as many as 40 times, the lawsuit said. Yet the probation officer, who visited the home multiple times, did nothing, the lawsuit said.

“This man was not at home and wasn’t where he was supposed to be,” said family attorney Tim Cavanagh. “The probation officer never arrested him or notified the state’s attorney or police to have him arrested for probation violations.”

The lawsuit accused Reyes and the probation department of being negligent and breaching their duty. The lawsuit also accused Collier of battery, false imprisonment, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages.

Newsradio 780 tried to reach the probation department chief for reaction, but the office of the chief judge of Cook County says neither judges nor their employees may comment on any pending court cases.

The chief judge’s office says the Cook County state’s attorney will represent the probation department chief in the federal lawsuit.

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  • KR

    They ARE:

    The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court on behalf of the girl’s mother, against Cook County Chief Probation Officer Jesus Reyes, and the sexual assault suspect, Acurie Collier.

  • James Huerkamp

    cut off his testicles and then lock his ass up in prison. Oh yes tattoo on his ass free entry. slide right in.

  • NANCY ROGERS

    IN MY OPINION THE PROBLEM APPEARS LARGER THAN THIS. A NEIGHBOR OF MINE IS A COOK COUNTY PAROLE OFFICER AND HE HAS SPENT A LARGE AMOUNT OF TIME STAYING HOME DURING WHAT APPEARS TO BE WORK HOURS FOR YEARS. I HAVE SENT INFORMATION TO THE STATES ATTORNEY’S OFFICE AND HE CONTINUES TO SPEND A LARGE AMOUNT OF TIME AT HOME.. IT APPEARS THAT WE ARE PAYING PEOPLE TO “NOT” SHOW UP AT WORK AND IN MY OPINION “NOT” DO THEIR THEIR JOB. I WISH SOMEONE WOULD MONITOR THE COOK COUNTY PAROLE DEPARTMENT’S ATTENDANCE. MAYBE THEN THERE WOULD BE LESS PROBLEMS.

  • Valerie Parkhurst

    When and only when the public holds these so-called state employees feet to the fire and accountable is when they will finally learn to get off their backsides and actually do their jobs! There is no reason in the world this freak shouldnt have been violated and put away prior to crossing paths with this child. It could have been your child or mine. Your paying for it, when you start demanding to get your monies worth is when you will get protocol set in motion to alleviate Probation officer’s like this.

  • Valerie Parkhurst

    You FR are part of the problem and not the solution. My blood pressure rises when I read comments like yours. You are either a “bad guy” or a state employee who thinks “business as usual” is hiding behind your state pension or a sex offender that blames the vicitm or their parents for criminal behavor as this, either way your useless to a functioning society.

  • Alice Dise Mullins

    Yes, the department does cover and clean up their files by the direction of Jesus Reyes. The is a reason he is still the Acting Chief. He has no idea what should be done in the probation department. When a meeting occurs to discuss such cases, he calls in sick The probation officer was only suspended because Lee Williams of the Public Policy institute would not stop calling the probation department to investigate this case and others. But, Acting Chief Reyes would not speak to him instead would refer him to other staff. Acting Chief Reyes is known to all in sick when major decision need to be made and/or discuss cases like this. Just recently the PO and a supervisor were suspended; but not because Acting Reyes no knew what to do. Yet, because thanks to Lee Williams “The Last Honest Man Standing” would not let it go. Acting Reyes is still there even though the probation is lacking leadership.

    • AD

      Oops I forget to this:
      Maybe you should talk to staff who knows that high profile cases are cleaned up before the information is provided to attorneys and/or court. Please understand that the clean can’t happen unless the Acting Chief instructs staff to do so. Acting Chief Reyes should be sued and fired. He did admit that they DROPPED the Ball in this case. The Cook County Adult Probation is in NEED of a true leader who knows how provide guidance to his top mangers on how to make monitor all cases. We are responsible for the safety of our communities.

      Acting Chief Reyes is to busy trying to get his other agency merged. This would be the biggest mistake if approved by the Chief Judge. Someone should ask Acting Chief Reyes where his strategic plan is for the department. In the past other Chief Probation Officers knew how to lead the probation department and had a better handle of the department, and would require updates on high profile cases.

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