Man Accused Of Groping 6-Year-Old Family Member In Evanston

EVANSTON, IL — A convicted sex offender who is no longer required to register with the state this week turned himself in to Evanston police after he was accused of groping a young boy, authorities said.

James E. Lee, 62, of the 7300 block of North Damen Avenue, Chicago, was charged with aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a child, according to police and prosecutors.

Authorities said that charge stems from an incident that occurred Oct. 9, 2021, on Darrow Avenue in Evanston, but the investigation indicated it was part of a pattern of abuse.

Assistant State's Attorney Jenna Reinhardt said a 6-year-old relative reported Lee had touched his genitals over his clothing to family members the same day it occurred.

The incident took place in the back seat of a family vehicle, according the prosecutor, with the boy's aunt and great-grandmother in the front seat as Lee was being driven to work.

"This was witnessed by the victim's 4-year-old brother," Reinhardt said.

The boy also told his mother about previous incidents where Lee had touched him inappropriately, at least one of which occurred at his home in Evanston, according to the prosecutor.

"On that occasion," Reinhardt said, "[Lee] woke [the boy] up while he was sleeping in his bedroom and touched his penis over [his] clothing."

According to the boy's parents, the child had a noticeable change of demeanor around Lee and had previously complained of pain to his genitals, Reinhardt said.

Investigators conducted an initial forensic interview with the boy on Nov. 1, according to the prosecutor, who said there were several additional interviews with him and family members.

Evanston police spokesperson Ryan Glew said investigators conducted multiple victim-sensitive interviews and requested medical records before arranging for Lee to turn himself in. It was not immediately clear if Lee agreed to be interviewed by detectives before charges were filed.

Lee, who lives with his mother and has spent the past 20 years working at the Evanston Steak and Shake, denies the allegations against him, according to his attorney, Assistant Public Defender Sarah Manning.

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The most recent of Lee's five felony convictions is a 2002 violation of sex offender registration. He was sentenced to two years in state prison as a result. He had a pair of prior convictions for failure to report a change of address and another sex offender registry violation in each of the previous two years, Reinhardt said.

Though he is no longer listed on the state's sex offender registry, Lee was convicted of seven counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault, two counts of criminal sexual assault and one count of aggravated battery and sentenced to 12 years in state prison in 1991 after he was found guilty of attacking and raping a woman on a public street in Evanston in June 1990.

Cook County Associate Judge Anthony Calabrese ordered Lee detained ahead of trial unless he can post the $25,000 cash portion of his bail. If he does, he must not have any contact with the boy he is accused of assaulting or anyone else under the age of 18.

"While I recognize that is a considerable amount of money, there are many who will think that is too light a bond, given the defendant's criminal background. There are others who will think that is too high a bond," Calabrese said. "Nonetheless, I think it's an appropriate bond based on all the circumstances."

Lee is due back in court March 8.