Former Bolingbrook resident, U.S. Army recruiter faces predatory criminal sexual assault charges

Justino Muniz-Munoz, 43, was charged Friday with felony predatory criminal sexual assault in Will County, according to the sheriff’s office.

The sheriff’s office website lists Muniz-Munoz’s current address as “homeless” and “Romeoville, Illinois”.

According to Kathy Hoffmeyer, spokeswoman for the Will County Sheriff’s Office, Muniz-Munoz was living with a girlfriend and her 10-year-old daughter in Bolingbrook and Romeoville between the summer of 2009 and July 2011 when the alleged crime occurred. The girl now is 14 years old, Hoffmeyer said.

Muniz-Munoz also was working as a U.S. Army recruiter at the time of the alleged crime, but Hoffmeyer said it was uncertain if the suspect was still working with the Army at the time charges were filed last week.

Muniz-Munoz was in a relationship with the girl’s mother at the time. The mother was unaware Muniz-Munoz was having sexual relations with the daughter, Hoffmeyer said.

Hoffmeyer said investigators believe Muniz-Munoz had sexual relations on “several occasions” with the victim.

The mother and daughter moved out of state some time last year, and the daughter confided to a school official about the alleged crimes, Hoffmeyer said. School officials then contacted authorities.

On June 22, 2012, Will County investigators interviewed Muniz-Munoz, and charges were filed on Friday, Hoffmeyer said.

According to Hoffmeyer, Muniz-Munoz attempted suicide a few days after interviewing with investigators in late June.

“Apparently he tried to kill himself by swallowing drain cleaner,” Hoffmeyer said. Muniz-Munoz was hospitalized at a local hospital for an undetermined length of time, Hoffmeyer said.

Hoffmeyer said she could not comment on whether or not Muniz-Munoz was currently under suicide watch at the jail, citing privacy issues.

Muniz-Munoz is scheduled to appear again in court at 9:30 a.m. Dec. 3 at the Will County courthouse.