(Lake County, IL) Late on the evening of October 21, 2026, a jury convicted Patrick Cacho, 29, of 20 counts of Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse, Criminal Sexual Abuse, Aggravated Battery and Official Misconduct related to the sexual abuse of a woman while Cacho was working as a police officer.
The jury trial began on Monday, October 19, 2026, lasting three days. The State was represented by Chief of the Special Victims Unit, Lauren Walker and Assistant State’s Attorney, Brooke Wanzenberg. During the trial, prosecutors presented testimony from witnesses, law enforcement officers, and cyber forensic experts.
Cacho was first charged in April 2026 following an investigation by the Illinois State Police (ISP). The investigation began in January 2026, after the Park City Police Department received an allegation that Cacho sexually assaulted a civilian while on duty.
At the trial, jurors heard testimony from the victim as she described nonconsensual sexual contact during separate traffic stops initiated by Cacho in December 2025 and January 2026. During both encounters, Cacho never turned on his body camera, never called into dispatch or documented the stops, and threatened the victim with criminal charges before assaulting her. The investigation began when a friend of the victim reported the incidents to the Park City Police Department in late January 2026.
Law enforcement officers, including Illinois State Police investigators, testified about the investigation, the evidence and records they gathered from the Park City Police Department, and phone records that corroborated the victim’s testimony.
After the State rested its case, Cacho testified in his own defense. During his testimony, Cacho denied the allegations and attempted to discredit the victim and her account of what occurred.
After the verdict, Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart stated, “By sexually abusing someone he had pulled over, this officer failed the public and his fellow police officers in every way possible. He intimidated and abused a member of our community when we were trusting him to protect people. At trial, our experienced prosecutors were able to demonstrate that the victim had bravely told the truth from the witness stand while this offender had told incredible lies. I want to thank the Illinois State Police, the Park City Police Department, our experienced trial prosecutors, and our outstanding victim support counselors for all their work. Because of this courageous victim, this offender will now face the strong prospect of years in prison.”
At the sentencing, Cacho faces up to seven years in prison on the most serious charge, a class 2 felony. The offenses are probationable, and the court has the discretion to impose consecutive sentences. Cacho will also be required to register as a sex offender for life.
Cacho’s next court date is scheduled for December 17, 2026, at 1:30 p.m.
