Naperville man charged with alleged sexual assault at DuPage County crisis center – Chicago Tribune

A Naperville man is in custody after allegedly sexually assaulting a woman at the DuPage County Crisis Center, authorities said.

Lonny Bracey, 34, was arrested and booked into the DuPage County Jail after allegedly attacking a woman while she slept in her bedroom at the 12-bed dorm, police and court records show.

The incident occurred on June 19 shortly before 11:30 p.m., according to a Wheaton police news release. Bracey was charged with sexual assault after allegedly having sexual contact with the victim while she was asleep and unable to give consent, according to the charges.

After Bracey fled, crisis center staff were notified and police were called, Wheaton police said in a news release. The victim was transported to a local hospital for medical treatment.

Wheaton Deputy Police Chief Brian Gabryel declined by phone Tuesday to provide further information about the victim or the alleged perpetrator “out of respect for their confidentiality.”

When asked if Bracey lived at the center, Gabryel said, “I will not release any more information about the victim and the alleged perpetrator in this case than what was in the press release.”

According to the DuPage County Health Department, which operates the crisis center and provides short-term help to county residents experiencing mental health crises, Bracey is not an employee of the center.

The center is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and staff conduct crisis assessments to determine eligibility for admission, the health department’s website says. There are several factors that preclude admission, including if someone is considered aggressive or is a registered sex offender. The average length of stay is five to seven days.

In response to the incident, the health department issued a written statement saying, “The health and safety of our customers and employees is our highest priority.” The department is cooperating with law enforcement and will conduct a “comprehensive internal investigation,” the statement said.

Bracey was taken into custody on June 20 and appeared in DuPage County District Court for a detention hearing on June 22, where he was ordered to remain in custody while awaiting criminal trial.

In a press release, DuPage County Attorney Robert Berlin called the allegations against Bracey “shocking.”

“The violent attack on a patient in her room at a residential mental health facility will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” he said.

Bracey’s next court date is scheduled for July 16.

[email protected]