East Garfield Park Landlord Charged With Sexually Assaulting 2 Kids
CHICAGO (STMW) -- A landlord who lives in the East Garfield Park neighborhood was held on $2 million bond Tuesday, charged with sexually assaulting two children who lived in buildings he managed.
Steven Young, 29, is charged with predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, sexual exploitation of a child and aggravated criminal sexual abuse, authorities said.
Young, of the 2700 block of West Warren Boulevard, was arrested after a 13-year-old boy told his mother the man fondled and tried to sexually assault him in Young's apartment on Jan. 25, according to police and the Cook County State's Attorney's office.
During the investigation, police learned Young allegedly had sexual contact with another child, a 7-year-old girl, between September 2013 and January 2014, authorities said.
Young works as a landlord and maintenance man in buildings where the children live separately with their families, prosecutors said during a bond hearing Tuesday.
Both families considered Young to be a close friend, and let the children visit his apartment to watch television or do homework, prosecutors claim.
Both children also told authorities they had seen Young handle guns inside of his apartment, prosecutors said.
Young, a lifelong Chicago resident, lives alone and holds an associate degree in criminal justice, his public defender said in court. He had been a manager at a Walmart store, but was laid off,
Judge Adam Bourgeois Jr. ordered Young held on $2 million bond. If he posts bond, he will not be allowed to have contact with anyone under age 18 or with the victims or their families. He would also be prohibited from having guns, authorities said.
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2014. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
