 |
| Miguel Morales (inset) and surveillance images of the offender that were released by Chicago police. | CPD |
Editor’s note: This report contains graphic language.
A West Town man will have to register as a sex offender for life and serve out two years probation after pleading guilty to sexually abusing a Lane Tech student near the high school’s campus last year.
Miguel Morales, 28, pleaded guilty Tuesday to one felony count of criminal sexual abuse of a victim between ages 13 and 17. In exchange, prosecutors dropped five additional sexual felonies.
Prosecutors last year said Morales approached two 15-year-old girls inside the McDonald’s restaurant at 2608 West Addison, across from Lane Tech, around 7 a.m. on March 14, 2018. Morales gave $5 to one of the girls who was short money to pay for an order. He then sat down at the victims’ table and began making lewd comments and sexual offers after learning the girls’ ages.
“You got nice titties for a 15-year-old,” Morales allegedly said to one girl.
To the other, he allegedly said: “You got a fat ass for a 15-year-old” while caressing the second girl’s buttocks, according to police.
A police arrest report said Morales then offered the girls $200 to come with him to a motel and “sit on my face.”
While one girl went to the restroom, Morales grabbed the other girl’s arm and forced her to touch his exposed penis, prosecutors said. The girl pulled free, and both victims went to Lane Tech, where they reported the incident.
Police said video of the incident was captured on McDonald’s surveillance system, but no audio was recorded. Restaurant management was able to provide Morales’ name to cops a couple of days after the incident, according to a CPD source.
Judge Adrienne E. Davis approved the plea deal.
