2 accused of sexual assault of girl
By Tony Graf tgraf@stmedianetwork.com September 14, 2012 5:34PM
Updated: October 17, 2012 6:37AM
JOLIET TOWNSHIP — Two men were arrested — one after a short chase — on charges of sexually assaulting an 11-year-old girl, Will County police said Friday.
Albert D. West, 24, of 104 Comstock St. in Joliet, and Alan M. Wilburn, 19, of 642 Sullivan in University Park, were arrested on outstanding warrants, both charged with predatory criminal sexual assault of a victim under 13.
“In February of this year, our investigation revealed there had been inappropriate contact between the two defendants and a juvenile female subject,” said Ken Kaupas, deputy chief of the Will County sheriff’s office.
Wilburn was arrested earlier by Cook County police on an outstanding Will County warrant. Then on Tuesday, West was arrested on the sexual assault charge and a charge of resisting or obstructing a peace officer. He was taken into custody after officers approached him at his home, Kaupas said.
West was wearing shorts at the time, so officers went into his house with him and allowed him to put on shoes and a shirt, Kaupas said.
“He ran from the house out the front door,” Kaupas said. “The detectives gave chase and subdued him.”
In February, the father of the 11-year-old girl found the girl walking along Route 53, accompanied by an older male, Kaupas said. The father took his daughter to a hospital, where he learned that the girl had been sexually assaulted in the past, Kaupas said.
At that point, the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services got involved in the case. The Will County sheriff’s office and DCFS officials investigated. Investigators determined that Wilburn and West had frequented the victim’s home, Kaupas said.
In July, a warrant was issued for West and Wilburn’s arrest, but authorities initially were unable to locate the two, Kaupas said.
After Cook County police arrested Wilburn, he was transferred to the Will County Jail on Monday pursuant to the sexual assault warrant, Kaupas said.
Will County deputies then developed information on West that led them to his Joliet home this week, Kaupas said.
