Overview
- Prosecutors charged 41-year-old James Spencer with aggravated criminal sexual abuse and a judge ordered him detained pending trial after the alleged incident at a Chatham bus stop.
- Authorities say the alleged groping occurred about 7:41 p.m. Saturday when Spencer approached the 6-year-old from behind at a stop on 87th Street near State and briefly boarded a bus before leaving the scene.
- The girl's mother intervened, photographed the suspect, and turned the image over to police; investigators also reviewed Food4Less surveillance video and an anonymous tip identified the man in the circulated alert photos.
- Prosecutors noted Spencer's long criminal history, including a 2007 sentence of 15 years for criminal sexual assault and other violent convictions dating back to 1999, and he reportedly acknowledged being at the scene while denying intentional contact.
- Police continue to investigate related South Side assaults and the state is reviewing Spencer's parole status, while community alerts and tip lines remain active as authorities work to determine any broader links.