Wonder Lake, Illinois — A local man, Alan J. Mrowka, who is accused of sexually abusing a child nearly 30 years ago, has requested that prosecutors provide clearer details about the allegations against him. Mrowka, 70, faces charges of aggravated criminal sexual abuse involving a child under 13, categorized as a Class 2 felony, according to documents filed in McHenry County court.
Supporters have consistently attended Mrowka’s court hearings, with Judge Mark Gerhardt acknowledging their presence at a recent pretrial session. He noted their interest in the progress of the case, highlighting the community’s involvement in the legal proceedings.
Mrowka was apprehended in Florida, where he had been constructing a home and spending winters. At his initial court appearance in late 2023, prosecutors alleged that in 1996, Mrowka, while serving as an instructor for the Wonder Lake Ski Team, had inappropriately touched the accuser, who was a minor at the time. The alleged incident occurred when Mrowka was assisting the child out of a boat.
The allegations resurfaced decades later when the accuser contacted law enforcement to report the incident. Mrowka’s defense is seeking detailed information regarding the timeline of the alleged abuse, which the defense argues is vague. The motion filed by his attorneys raises questions about how the accuser became aware of the ongoing investigation, especially as the allegations were reported shortly after the investigation began.
Prosecutors have indicated that the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office received multiple reports from former members of the ski team suggesting similar abuse by Mrowka. However, due to the statute of limitations, no charges have been brought forth concerning those claims. An investigation was initiated in March 2023, but the state’s attorney’s office closed the case in September 2023, citing insufficient evidence.
Just a couple of months later, on November 29, 2023, Mrowka was charged based on the singular account provided by the accuser. In a recent interview, the accuser described the event, noting uncertainty about the exact date but recalling it occurred around 1995 or 1996. The allegations surfaced during a police interview conducted via FaceTime, which prosecutors later presented to a grand jury, leading to Mrowka’s indictment.
The alleged incident reportedly happened while the accuser was struggling with a skiing maneuver during practice. The accuser asserts that while being helped out of the boat, Mrowka’s actions went beyond mere assistance. He described the touch in detail, suggesting that it was inappropriate.
Furthermore, Mrowka has a prior conviction from 1984, when he pleaded guilty to contributing to the sexual delinquency of a minor in McHenry County, a case that resulted in probation. A hearing to discuss the defense’s motion for clarification is scheduled for August 12.
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