Man charged with abusing cousin, 7, during online lesson
A man has been arrested over the alleged sexual assault of his seven-year-old cousin during her online school lesson.
The Chicago man, named Catrell Walls, 18, is charged with one felony count of predatory criminal sexual assault of a victim under the age of 13, according to Fox32 Chicago.
Police officers said the young girl’s teacher and classmates witnessed the alleged attack during a break in the students’ online class on Thursday (local time).
Prosecutors told a court during Walls’ bail hearing on Saturday that the girl’s microphone was muted but the camera remained on, according to the publication.
A handful of other students were also logged on to the Google Meets session, and two of which brought attention to the alleged attack.
The teacher had been working on another computer during the break but heard two students say, “What is going on? What is happening?”, Fox32 Chicago reported.
Prosecutors alleged the teacher had seen the girl being forced to perform oral sex while partially undressed.
The teacher flagged the incident to the school’s principal, who contacted the girl’s parents.
The young girl initially said Walls had “just hit her”, before later allegedly telling police he had sexually abused her before, prosecutors told the court.
After his arrest, police said the 18-year-old broke down in tears and told them, “I don’t know why, I’m sorry, I’m sorry”.
He has been denied bail and will appear in court again in November.
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