Pretrial hearing denied for man accused of sexually abusing missing child in Green Oaks

A man who was out on bail in a shooting trial has been denied preliminary release on charges he sexually abused a missing North Carolina child and held her captive for weeks in his Green Oaks home.

The United States Marshals Service received information Tuesday about the whereabouts of a missing 15-year-old girl from Kannapolis, North Carolina.

According to Christopher Covelli, chief deputy with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Marshals learned the girl may have been at a home in the 31,000 block of Prairie Ridge Road in Green Oaks.

The United States Marshals Service notified the Chicago Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.

Members of the HSI, Lake County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division and Lake County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Group immediately conducted an investigation. Covelli said.

The investigation revealed evidence that the girl was staying in the Green Oaks family home.

On Wednesday, a search warrant was obtained for the apartment.

Covelli said dInvestigators set up surveillance on the home and Andrew W. Szech, 43, who lives there, was seen leaving the home with the victim around 4 p.m.

Investigators arrested Szech and rescued the victim. Covelli said.

Further investigation revealed that Szech allegedly began communicating with the victim online in June.

He encouraged the victim to take a bus from her home to Chicago in early July, Covelli said.

Szech picked up the teenager from the bus station in Chicago and took her to his home in Green Oaks, where he sexually abused her. Covelli said.

The girl had been in Szech’s house for several weeks.

The Lake County District Attorney’s Office Children’s Advocacy Center assisted in the investigation.

A search warrant was issued for Szech’s home and detectives seized a firearm, over 2,700 grams of cannabis, nearly 30 grams of psilocybin-laced candy, over 55 grams of psilocybin mushrooms, 27 cannabis plants and over 55 Adderall pills.

Covelli said the victim was at a safe distance from his abuser and was placed in nursing homes.

The Lake County District Attorney’s Office has filed charges of three counts of sexual abuse, unlawful possession of psilocybin mushrooms with intent to resell, unlawful possession of cannabis with intent to resell, unlawful possession of cannabis, unlawful possession of Adderall with intent to resell, aggravated assault, unlawful possession of cannabis plants, two counts of aggravated unlawful possession of a firearm, reckless conduct and aggravated assault.

More charges are expected. The Lake County District Attorney’s Office has requested that Szech be remanded in custody while he awaits trial.

A detention hearing was held on Friday afternoon and prosecutors informed the court that Szech had agreed to be held in custody pending trial.

Lake County Judge Theodore Potkonjak signed an order denying Szech pretrial release and remanding him in custody pending trial.

“There are few things worse than exploiting a defenseless child. We will do everything we can to rescue children and victims from human trafficking and sexual abuse,” said Lake County Sheriff John Idleburg.

“I am so grateful that this child is safe and receiving the support and help he needs to overcome this horrific situation. I am thankful for our office’s close collaboration with our federal and local partners that led to this rescue and prosecution,” Idleburg said.

Court records show that Szech was out on bail in a pending case in Lake County at the time of his arrest.

Szech, a convicted felon, had posted 10% of a $300,000 bond in July 2023 after being charged with intentionally discharging a firearm and possession of a firearm as a felon.

Szech was accused in the previous case of shooting at a group of people near his Green Oaks residence and then lying to investigators that he had been robbed by the group.

“First, we are pleased that the defendant is incarcerated. Second, we are supporting the victim in any way we can through local and national resources. Third, I want to thank the Children’s Advocacy Center, the Lake County Sheriff’s Department and the federal authorities for their thorough investigation,” Lake County Prosecutor Eric Rinehart said after Friday’s court hearing.

“Under the SAFE-T Act, our prosecutors can now request pretrial detention, which, if granted, should keep the defendant in custody for the entire duration of the ongoing case. As a result of today’s order, he cannot use any cash to obtain release. Our Special Victims Unit and Victim Support Specialists will hold this offender accountable, further isolate him from the community, and provide short- and long-term support to the victim,” Rinehart said.

Szech is scheduled to appear in court again for a preliminary hearing on August 20.