Indiana man charged with sex abuse of sleeping girls at their Lincoln Park homes

An Indiana man has been charged with sexually abusing two girls while they slept after breaking into their homes in the Lincoln Park neighborhood.

Hunter Best, 25, of Indianapolis, was charged with felony counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, home invasion and criminal trespass to a residence, according to Chicago Police. He also faces a misdemeanor count of battery.

Best’s defense attorney, Tom Leinenweber, waived a bail hearing Wednesday when Best appeared for a hearing at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse. A motion to reconsider bond was continued to his next court date, which was set for Tuesday.

Best was ordered held on the no-bail warrant charging him with the felonies and was ordered held without bail on the misdemeanor charge by Judge John F. Lyke Jr.

About 2:15 a.m. May 27, Best entered a home in the 400 block of West Belden and sexually abused a 13-year-old girl, police said. About 20 minutes later, he tried to sexually abused an 11-year-old girl in her home in the 500 block of West Grant Place, according to a May 30 community alert from police.

Best is accused of kissing one of the girls on the neck and hugging her without her consent, according to his arrest report. He was identified by his Indiana driver’s license photo, the report said.

During the investigation, police released photos and a video that allegedly showed Best in the area at the time of the offenses.

Best was held at the Marion County, Indiana jail before he was extradited back to Cook County on Monday, according to police records.

Ald. Michelle Smith (43) first announced the charges against Best in a newsletter to the community Tuesday night.