Crime & Safety

Man Busted for Attempted Sexual Abuse, Police Say

William Prater allegedly came into the victim's house, where he drank beer, snorted coke and tried to sexually molest her, according to Will County Sheriff's Office reports.

A man who attempted to sexually assault a Joliet Township woman has been arrested Tuesday by the Will County Sheriff's Office.

William Prater, 36, with addresses listed in Joliet and Braidwood, is alleged to have entered the 19-year-old victim's Grinton Street home without asking at about 9 p.m. Sept. 20 and would not leave, despite several requests from the victim and her roommate, who owns the house, sheriff's office spokeswoman Kathy Hoffmeyer said in a news release.

Instead, Prater sat down at the kitchen table and started drinking beer and snorting cocaine, Hoffmeyer said. The two women left him there and went to bed.

Some time later, Prater went into the victim's bedroom and began to sexually abuse her, Hoffmeyer said. When the victim threatened to call police, he threw her phone across the room and continued to sexually touch her, Hoffmeyer said.

The woman was able to free herself and fled to her friend's room to call the police.

Based on the women's statements, a warrant for Prater's arrest was issued Sept. 24. Prater voluntarily turned himself in Tuesday and was charged with criminal sexual abuse and unlawful restraint.

He is being held in the Will County jail in lieu of $75,000 bond.

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According to jail and Will County circuit court records, Prater was arrested in July on charges of knowingly damaging property and criminal trespass to land.


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