Elk Grove man gets 46 years for sexually assaulting friend's two young daughters

A northwest suburban man has been sentenced to 46 years in prison for sexually assaulting his friend’s two young daughters over a period of more than a year, according to prosecutors.

On Jan. 29, a jury found 36-year-old Scott Gates guilty of two counts of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, and four counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a child, according to the DuPage County state’s attorney’s office.

On Friday, Judge John Kinsella sentenced the Elk Grove Village resident to 18 years on each of the sexual assault charges, to be served consecutively; and 10 years on each of the sexual abuse charges, to be served concurrently, a statement from prosecutors said.

“My heart goes out to these two young girls who were the object of Mr. Gates’ twisted desires,” state’s attorney Robert Berlin said in the statement. “It is my sincerest hope that they will be able to recover from the emotional scars he has undoubtedly inflicted upon them.”

In June 2011, the sisters were asleep in their Addison home, when one of them woke up to find Gates sexually assaulting her, prosecutors said. The second girl was awakened by the commotion and both ran to another bedroom where a parent was sleeping.

Police were notified and an arrest warrant issued in December 2011.

While investigating, authorities learned that “Gates had also sexually abused the younger girl on several occasions from April 2010 through April 2011.”

He has remained in custody at the DuPage County Jail on a $250,000 bond since Jan. 5, 2012.