Man on electronic monitoring for CTA sex cases accused of sexually attacking woman on Orange Line in the Loop
Nicholas Percastegui, a 23-year-old man, has been accused of sexually assaulting a woman on a CTA train in the Loop. Shockingly, he was wearing an electronic monitoring device and had been ordered to stay away from the transit system while awaiting trial in two similar cases involving another woman and a teenage girl on CTA trains, according to prosecutors.
This alarming news comes just before a special Chicago City Council hearing where Cook County officials will be questioned about the handling of criminal warrants, orders of protection, and the county’s electronic monitoring programs.
Percastegui allegedly violated the terms of his pretrial release by returning to CTA trains while wearing his ankle monitor and committing a series of sex-related offenses against women. Two of these cases are currently under active investigation by Cook County prosecutors. On Friday, Judge D’Anthony Thedford ordered Percastegui to be detained.
In August of last year, Percastegui was charged with two counts of aggravated battery in public places related to incidents on Pink Line trains. One incident involved a 19-year-old woman who was approached by Percastegui and subjected to unwanted advances, including forcibly kissing her. In another case, a 21-year-old woman witnessed Percastegui pleasuring himself on a train and then spitting on her foot.
Despite these allegations, Percastegui was placed on electronic monitoring and ordered to stay away from the CTA by Judge Elizabeth Ciaccia-Lezza. However, he continued to violate these terms, leading to new charges stemming from an incident on an Orange Line train in the Loop on April 25. In this case, a 21-year-old woman was sexually assaulted by Percastegui, who was later identified through CTA surveillance footage.
Additionally, the Chicago Police Department is investigating two more incidents involving Percastegui, including one where a 15-year-old girl was targeted on an Orange Line train and another where a 26-year-old woman was harassed on a Red Line train.
Percastegui now faces charges of criminal sexual abuse by force, aggravated battery of a transit passenger, and public indecency. His criminal history includes burglary convictions in 2021 and 2022.
In response to these troubling events, the City Council’s Public Safety Committee will be holding a hearing to address concerns about how the Cook County court system handles criminal warrants, orders of protection, and electronic monitoring programs. Ald. Silvana Tabares has emphasized the importance of transparency in these programs to prevent violence against women, children, and first responders.
The Cook County court system’s exemption from the Freedom of Information Act has raised concerns about limited public access to information. The hearing aims to gather data and improve transparency in areas where public information is currently lacking, ensuring a collaborative approach to public safety for all residents.
