Man, teen charged w/ sexual assault of southwest suburban woman - Fox 2 News Headlines

A man and teenage boy were charged Sunday with breaking into a southwest suburban Park Forest home last Thursday then beating and sexually assaulting the startled homeowner when she returned to her residence.

James A. Romaine, 22, and a 16-year-old boy broke into an empty home in the 300 block of Somonauk Street in Park Forest on Thursday, according to Park Forest police.

When the homeowner returned she found the two strangers inside her residence, police said. The burglars, one armed with a gun, beat and sexually assaulted the woman then forced her into her vehicle.

The burglars then drove her vehicle around and eventually released her about two blocks from her home, police said.

Officers responded to the home about 10:30 p.m. after receiving a report of a dog running loose in the area, police said. While investigating the dog, the woman ran up to police and told them what happened.

Police located Romaine and the teen Friday morning.

Romaine, of the 400 block of Tomahawk Street in Park Forest, and the teen were each charged Sunday with one count of aggravated criminal sexual assault and home invasion, police said.

Both are expected to appear in bond court in Chicago on Monday, police said. The teen, of the 200 block of Mantau Street in Park Forest, is expected to be charged as an adult.

Romaine has previously been charged with disorderly conduct for an alleged February 2012 fight outside Rich East High School, criminal damage to property for allegedly damaging a neighbor's bathroom in July 2012 and domestic battery for an alleged September 2012 incident in Matteson, according to reports.