Aaron Cook Charged with Rape

A South Pekin teenager was charged in Tazewell County’s 10th Judicial Circuit Court Tuesday with the rape of a child under the age of 9.

Aaron T. Cook, 16, of 111 Second St., South Pekin, is charged with two counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault, a Class X felony, for allegedly sexually assaulting the child on three or four occasions.

The mother of the alleged victim called Pekin police Saturday after the mother came home to find Cook allegedly in the bedroom with her daughter behind a locked door. Cook was baby-sitting, according to court records.

Cook allegedly answered the bedroom door when the mother knocked and said the girl was in the bathroom, court records said. The mother talked to the daughter, who disclosed that Cook had allegedly had sexual contact with her, the records said.

The child was interviewed Monday at the Tazewell County Children’s Advocacy Center, where she related the details of the events. She alleged that Cook had assaulted her on several occasions while he was baby-sitting at her family’s home.

Cook was interviewed Monday by Pekin police and allegedly admitted to assaulting the girl on four or five occasions. He allegedly told officers that the girl told him to stop because he was hurting her but that he did not, court records said.

The girl was taken to Pekin Hospital, where a physical exam revealed that she had been sexually assaulted. She was taken to the Pediatric Resource Center, where it was determined she will need to have surgery to repair the damage from the assaults, according to court records.

Cook is a Pekin Community High School student. PCHS Superintendent Paula Davis said this morning that if Cook is found guilty, the judicial system will determine whether he will continue his education at the high school.

Tazewell County State's Attorney Stewart Umholtz said a decision on whether to charge Cook as an adult will be made today.