An Elgin man has been found guilty of sexually assaulting and abusing a teen who was new to the United States and threatening to harm her mother and boot her from his home if his crimes were exposed, officials said.
Juan Pop-Pana, 25, was convicted by a Kane County jury of criminal sexual assault, criminal sexual abuse of a child and intimidation, all felonies, in connection with multiple incidents that took place between April 2022 and June 2024, according to a news release from the Kane County state’s attorney’s office.
“The defendant sexually assaulted the victim, who was a family member under the age of 18, and fondled her breasts,” the release said. “The defendant then threatened the victim with having her mother harmed as well as being kicked out of the house if she told anyone what he had done.”
Pop-Pana is being held at the Kane County jail pending his next court appearance scheduled for Oct. 30. He faces a minimum 7-year prison term and will be required to register as a sex offender for life when sentenced.
“The defendant in this case took advantage of the victim’s vulnerability of being in a new country, not speaking the language, and knowing no one else here other than the defendant, her caregiver,” Assistant State’s Attorney Morgan Wilkinson said in a statement.
“The defendant’s repeated conduct will forever change the victim’s life, but her bravery in facing her abuser in court got her the justice she deserves.”
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