KANNAPOLIS, N.C. — A sheriff's office in Illinois arrested a man who is accused of sexually assaulting a teen after coercing her to travel over 700 miles.
Andrew Szech, 43, faces over a dozen charges relating to a sexual abuse investigation in Lake County, Illinois, which is about 40 miles north of Chicago.
Szech communicated with a 15-year-old girl from Kannapolis online beginning in June, according to the Lake County Sheriff's Office. He convinced the teen to take a bus from her home to Chicago in early July.
After Szech picked up the teen in Chicago, he sexually abused her at his home in Green Oaks, Illinois, the sheriff's office said.
The United States Marshals learned on Tuesday that the missing teen might be in Green Oaks. A surveillance team observed Szech with the teen at his home on Wednesday. Szech was taken into custody and the teen was taken away from the area and placed in care.
Szech is charged with three counts of criminal sexual abuse, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, reckless conduct, and seven drug and gun-related charges.
“There is not much worse than exploiting a vulnerable child," John Idleburg, Lake County Sheriff, said. "We will go to all lengths to rescue children and victims from trafficking and sexual abuse."
Szech is being held in Lake County jail with no bond. Additional charges are pending.