Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2004. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Chicago Tribune - August 18, 2004
Patrick Rucker, Tribune staff reporter
Carlos Colon, 23, of the 5700 block of North Winthrop Avenue, knew that he was infected with the virus that causes AIDS before the alleged assault, prosecutors said. Colon was also charged with one count each of sexual assault and armed robbery in the incident.
Colon allegedly approached the victim while she was riding a CTA Red Line train home about 11:30 p.m. Aug. 11, prosecutors said. He asked her age and, when she responded that she was 17, said he was a police officer and she was under arrest for violating curfew, prosecutors said.
Colon sat next to the girl on the train until it reached the Berwyn stop, where he led her to the 5300 block of North Lake Shore Drive, prosecutors said. There, Colon feigned a call to police supervisors, then allegedly turned on his victim with a knife, threw her into nearby shrubs and raped her, court documents say. Colon also stole $10 from the girl's purse, prosecutors allege.
Before releasing the teen, Colon walked her back to the CTA stop and forced her to "kiss him in front of the CTA agent," according to court documents.
The next morning, the teen told her roommate about the alleged attack and sought treatment at a hospital, prosecutors said. Police tracked Colon, a carnival worker, to the 12400 block of South Throop Street in Riverdale where he was arrested at 10:40 p.m. Sunday.
The alleged victim identified Colon as her attacker, and he admitted while he was in police custody to being HIV positive, prosecutors said.
On Tuesday, prosecutors asked that Colon be denied bail because he poses a danger to society. Cook County Circuit Judge Matthew Coghlan called the alleged attack "heinous" and "despicable," but he set Colon's bail at $400,000.
Criminal transmission of HIV "is an infrequent charge," said Marcy Jensen, a spokeswoman for the Cook County state's attorney's office. "But we pursue it whenever we can prove that the defendant knew that he or she was HIV positive" and did nothing to protect the victim.
"Every sexual assault victim fears for their life. But this is their worst nightmare come true," said Sasha Walters of Rape Victim Advocates, a counseling center in Chicago. "Long after the attack, this victim might have to deal with prolonged illness or shortened life."
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