DNA match leads to rape charges in DeKalb

DeKALB - DNA evidence received this week was used to keep a man in jail on rape charges. Alberto Vasquez, 23, a transient, was in DeKalb County Jail on theft charges and about to be released Monday when DeKalb Police learned his DNA reportedly matched that taken from a woman who was raped last month. Police say Vasquez sexually assaulted a 20-year-old female student between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m. Aug. 18 in the 1000 block of West Lincoln Highway. The woman reported the incident to police immediately. Police said that Vasquez was in the same area the next day and was bothering some women. Police detained him and took his name, but later released him. Later police learned the two incidents were related. During the course of the investigation, the first victim gave a description of Vasquez and one of the women he bothered gave police his name. A witness in the area also reported seeing a man and a woman having some kind of confrontation. When police learned the two incidents were related, Vasquez was already in jail. While he was in jail, police gathered a DNA sample and sent it to the Illinois State Crime Lab. DeKalb Police Lt. Jim Kayes said it regularly takes months to get DNA test results, but because police had the suspect's name, the information was available sooner. Kayes said he believes Vasquez would have fled the country and would have never been arrested on the rape charges had he been released from jail. Vasquez is charged with criminal sexual assault, a Class 1 felony punishable by four to 15 years in prison and a fine of $25,000, and aggravated criminal sexual assault, a Class X felony punishable by six to 30 years in prison and a fine of $25,000. Vasquez remains in the county jail; bond was set at $250,000.