Joliet man charged after attempting to sexually assault neighbor’s girl during burglary

JOLIET, Ill. (CBS) — A 23-year-old man has been charged after breaking into a neighbor’s home in Joliet, Illinois on Thursday and attempting to sexually assault a girl.

Authorities arrested 23-year-old Isaias Vargas and booked him into the Will County Adult Detention Center. He was charged with two counts of aggravated sexual assault, two counts of burglary, two counts of assault and obstruction of a law enforcement officer, and false imprisonment.

Just after 7:30 p.m., officers responded to the 900 block of Richards Street for a report from a girl that a neighborhood man was in her home and attempting to sexually assault her. The victim’s age was not released, but authorities confirmed she was a minor.

According to police, officers saw Vargas leave the victim’s home and ran. Joliet police lost sight of Vargas in a dense wooded area. A sniffer dog and a drone were deployed.

While conducting surveillance of the suspects’ home, officers came across a chicken coop where Vargas was hiding alongside the sniffer dog.

Investigators who questioned Vargas said he admitted to climbing through the window to look for the girl and trying to have sex with her. He also admitted to sexually abusing the victim when she was younger.

In a conversation with investigators, the victim confirmed the details of both attacks, police said.

The public prosecutor’s office is working with criminal investigators and officials in this case.