Man charged with sexually assaulting woman in Lake View apartment building

A 29-year-old man has been charged with attacking and sexually assaulting a woman last week in the Lake View neighborhood.

Terrence Wright is charged with aggravated criminal sexual assault in connection with the April 19 attack at an apartment building near Irving Park Road and Fremont Street, according to the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office.

The 24-year-old woman arrived home about 9 p.m. and noticed a man waiting in the courtyard of her building, Assistant State’s Attorney Kathleen Conniff said. The woman asked him if he was locked out, and the man, later identified by police as Wright, said yes.

They entered the vestibule of the building, and as she unlocked a second set of doors to access the apartments, Wright grabbed her from behind and wrapped his arm around her throat, Conniff said. The woman tried to scream, but Wright tightened his hold, choking her and causing her to chip her tooth as she struggled to get away from him.

She pretended to pass out, but when he loosened his grip and tried to pick her up, she began struggling again, Conniff said. He choked her again, opened her pants and used his hand to sexually assault her. She threw herself to the ground, causing her wallet to fall out and Wright to fall down a set of stairs. Wright grabbed the wallet and ran.

Conniff said video surveillance in the area, including at a nearby CTA Red Line station, recorded Wright fleeing the area and going into the station.

The next day, Wright tried to talk to a 30-year-old woman while at an Orange Line station, according to Conniff and Chicago Police records. When she refused to engage him in conversation, he followed her onto the train and then to the 5300 block of South Kedzie in the Gage Park neighborhood.

When she noticed him following her, he grabbed her by her breast and kissed her, authorities said. Wright was taken into custody about 10:40 p.m. about four blocks away after the woman reported the incident to police.

He was charged with battery in connection with the incident and subsequently charged with the earlier sexual assault, according to Cook County court records. The battery case against Wright was dropped Friday.

Wright also appeared Friday for his initial hearing on the sex assault charge and was denied bail by Judge John F. Lyke Jr.

His next court date was scheduled for May 4.