A Villa Park man accused of groping a woman on the Illinois Prairie Path near South York Street will remain jailed pending trial.
DuPage County Circuit Court Judge Joshua Dieden granted the state's motion to detain Mario Ronces Ocampo, 39, of the 300 block of Maple Avenue in Villa Park, according to a joint announcement from DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin and Elmhurst Police Chief Michael McLean. The Elmhurst Independent first reported the detention ruling.
Ronces Ocampo appeared in court on Wednesday, Aug. 26, and was charged with one count of aggravated battery in a public place, a Class 3 felony, and one count of criminal sexual abuse, a Class 4 felony. The ruling means he will remain in custody at least until his next court date.
What prosecutors allege
On Thursday, Aug. 20, at approximately 9:02 p.m., Elmhurst police responded to a 911 call from a woman who reported being groped by a man on an electric scooter on the Prairie Path near South York Street.
Prosecutors allege the woman was out for a run and had lost her keys. While she searched for them using her phone's flashlight, Ronces Ocampo allegedly drove an electric scooter toward her, collided with her, touched her genitals, tried to hug her and fled westbound on the path.
About 10 minutes later, Ronces Ocampo allegedly approached the woman from behind on the scooter, grabbed her buttocks and fled again.
Arrest and investigation
Police arrested Ronces Ocampo on Tuesday, Aug. 25, at approximately 1:09 p.m. in Melrose Park. He was taken into custody without incident.
McLean credited cooperation from multiple sources in solving the case.
"Bringing resolution to this case took the combined cooperation of police, business operators with security cameras and members of the community who provided crucial leads to our investigators," McLean said in the joint announcement.
Berlin called the allegations "very disturbing" and said the conduct "will not be tolerated in DuPage County."
No attorney for Ronces Ocampo was identified in the announcement, and no response from his defense counsel appears in public records.
What's next
Ronces Ocampo's next court appearance is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 21, before Judge Ann Celine O'Hallaren Walsh.
