Venezuelan Migrant Charged with Sexual Assault in Chicago and Evanston
A Venezuelan migrant accused of sexually attacking a woman during a North Side home invasion is now facing additional charges for committing another sexual assault in nearby Evanston earlier the same night. Yeison Diaz Gomez, 21, was initially charged with the October 10 break-in and attack in the 2100 block of West Lunt Avenue in Chicago.
During a detention hearing in the Chicago case, Assistant State’s Attorney Mike Pekara revealed that a 32-year-old woman was using her basement bathroom around 2 a.m. when Diaz Gomez entered the restroom wearing only a towel he had taken from inside her home. The woman screamed as Diaz Gomez grabbed her arm and groped her over her clothing. She fought back and called for help, causing Diaz Gomez to flee through a first-floor window. The woman later discovered her cellphone missing and contacted the police using a roommate’s phone. Surveillance footage from the alley showed Diaz Gomez hiding from officers shortly after the attack.
A Chicago police officer who arrested Diaz Gomez on August 22 identified him from a bulletin circulated within the department. Prosecutors mentioned that the August arrest was one of 14 times Diaz Gomez had been taken into custody since November 2024, including multiple shoplifting and narcotics cases filed while he was on pretrial release earlier this year. Judge Ankur Srivastava ordered Diaz Gomez detained on charges of committing a sex offense during a home invasion, criminal sexual abuse, and residential burglary.
Subsequently, prosecutors revealed that Diaz Gomez would face additional charges in connection with another assault in Evanston. He is now detained on those allegations as well. In a separate hearing in Skokie, prosecutors stated that Diaz Gomez strangled and groped a woman on a sidewalk in Evanston around 11:30 p.m. on October 10, less than an hour before the Rogers Park home invasion.
Assistant State’s Attorney Brett Vail described the Evanston incident where Diaz Gomez approached a woman, engaged in conversation about a relationship, and then followed her. He dragged her into a nearby yard, strangled her, and attempted to silence her by covering her mouth and shoving dirt, leaves, and gravel into it. The victim fought back, causing Diaz Gomez to flee when a witness heard her screams. The woman sustained cuts, bruises, and redness on her face and neck.
Police used surveillance video to track a man matching Diaz Gomez’s description near the scene of the Evanston assault. Detectives linked him to both crimes through CPD’s bulletin. The victim identified him in a photo array, and Diaz Gomez later admitted to the altercation during questioning.
At the Evanston hearing, Assistant Public Defender Michael Gajos mentioned that Diaz Gomez emigrated from Venezuela three years ago and had no prior violent convictions. He also highlighted Diaz Gomez’s role in caring for his younger brother who came to the United States with him. Despite this, Judge Anthony Calabrese ordered Diaz Gomez detained, citing the overwhelming evidence of his guilt.
This article is based on court records and an official transcript of the Evanston hearing. CWBChicago purchased this content with the support of our readers.
