Man Admits Molesting 9-Year-Old Girl A Decade Ago

ROLLING MEADOWS, Ill. (STMW) -- A north suburban man who admitted molesting a 9-year-old girl when they lived in the same house 10 years ago in Elgin was ordered held on $100,000 bond Thursday.

Timothy Harte, 40, of the 26700 block of West Woodland Avenue in Antioch is charged with predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, according to a release from the Cook County Sheriff's office said.

The sheriff's Police Child Exploitation Unit began investigating when the victim, now 18, contacted officers in late June, the release said. She told police Harte began assaulting her when she was nine years old, when he lived in the basement of her parents' Elgin home.

The molestation began in 2001 and continued for about a year, she told police. According to the victim, Harte took advantage of her when her parents weren't around, joining in play activities in order to gain her trust.

The victim came forward now because she said she does not want Harte to hurt any other children, the release said.

Harte, who was 30 at the time of the alleged molestation, gave a written statement admitting he engaged in sexual acts with the victim, the release said.

As a condition of bail, he was ordered to have no contact with the victim or any children, including his own. A preliminary hearing was set for Aug. 4 in Rolling Meadows.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2010. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)