Man Serving 90 Years for Rape Convicted of Attempted Kidnapping

A southwest suburban man who a prosecutor calls "a loathsome and abominable reprobate" was found guilty Wednesday of trying to abduct a teenage girl. Already sentenced to 90 years in prison for rape, he will also stand trial for two additional sexual assaults.

John R. Pitts Jr., 43, of 1521 Pioneer Rd. in Crest Hill, was found guilty of attempted kidnapping and aggravated battery after a jury deliberated for about an hour, according to the Will County State’s Attorney’s office.

Pitts came up behind the victim -- who was walking home from work at a restaurant on Oct. 20, 2005 -- and attempted to force her into his Jeep. He put his hand over her mouth and was pushing her toward a car when a neighbor came out and yelled at him, according to a release from the state's attorney's office.

The girl was able to escape and reported the incident to Joliet police. Pitts was identified in a lineup after being arrested, and during the victim's testimony this week at trial, the release said. He allegedly gave a videotaped statement to police admitting to the crime.

Pitts had previously been convicted of three counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault in an unrelated case, the release said. He was sentenced earlier this year by Judge Amy Bertani-Tomczak to 90 years in prison.

“John R. Pitts Jr. is a loathsome and abominable reprobate who will never again prey on young women in our community,” State’s Atty. James Glasgow said in the release.

The victim in the previous rape case earlier this year testified that Pitts attacked her while as she walked to work along Mississippi Avenue around 5:30 a.m. on Dec. 5, 2002, the release said. Pitts put a knife to her throat and threatened to kill her, then forced her into the back seat of his car and drove to Patterson Road, where he sexually assaulted her.

DNA samples collected from the victim at the hospital matched Pitts’ DNA profile and conclusively linked him to the attack, according to the release.

Pitts is also facing charges of criminal sexual assault in cases involving two additional female victims.

He faces up to five years in prison when he is sentenced on Dec. 18 on the attempted kidnapping and aggravated battery convictions.