Landlord charged with sexually assaulting tenant’s child

Javier Vallejo / photo from Cook County Sheriff’s office

A landlord has been charged with sexually assaulting a young child whose family was renting an apartment building he owned on the Southwest Side.

Javier Vallejo, 56, was charged with one felony count of predatory criminal sexual assault, according to the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office. Judge Laura Sullivan ordered him held in lieu of a $300,000 bond Tuesday.

According to prosecutors, the 8-year-old child was outside playing on a scooter on June 1 when Vallejo summoned the child.

Vallejo allegedly placed his hand inside the child’s pants, then took the child to his apartment where he sexually assaulted the victim, prosecutors claim.

The child escaped, ran out of the apartment and told two family members what happened, who immediately called police, according to prosecutors.

Vallejo is next scheduled to appear in court June 23.