Lake County Gazette

A missing 15-year-old girl from Kannapolis, North Carolina, was rescued from a Green Oaks man's residence on July 24. The suspect has been charged with sexual abuse and unlawful drug possession.

"There is not much worse than exploiting a vulnerable child. We will go to all lengths to rescue children and victims from trafficking and sexual abuse," Sheriff John Idleburg said, according to a Lake County Sheriff's Office news release. "I am so thankful this child is safe and can begin to receive the assistance and help she needs to begin healing from this terrible situation."

According to the U.S. Marshals Service, the Lake County Sheriff's Office and the Chicago field office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) were notified about information that the missing 15-year-old girl might be located at a house in the 31000 block of Prairie Ridge, Green Oaks. The Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigations Division and Special Investigations Group conducted an investigation that produced evidence indicating the girl was at the residence. A search warrant was obtained on July 24 for the residence.

Surveillance was set up at the home by detectives, according to a Lake County Sheriff's Office news release. Andrew W. Szech, 43, was seen leaving the residence with the victim. The suspect was apprehended, and the victim was rescued. Investigation revealed that Szech began communicating with the victim online in June, according to Idleburg's office. He encouraged her to take a bus from North Carolina to Chicago in early July, picked her up from the Chicago bus station, and took her to his Green Oaks home where he allegedly sexually abused her.

A search of Szech's home enabled detectives to recover one firearm, more than 2,700 grams of cannabis, approximately 30 grams of psilocybin-laced candy, more than 55 grams of psilocybin mushrooms, 27 cannabis plants, and more than 55 Adderall pills. The Lake County State's Attorney's Office approved multiple charges against Szech: class 1 felonies -- three counts of criminal sexual abuse; unlawful possession of psilocybin mushrooms with intent to deliver; unlawful possession of cannabis with intent to deliver; class 2 felonies -- unlawful possession of cannabis and unlawful possession of Adderall with intent to deliver; class 3 felonies -- aggravated battery and unlawful possession of cannabis plants; class 4 felonies -- two counts of aggravated unlawful possession of a firearm; class A misdemeanor -- reckless conduct and aggravated assault. Additional charges are expected.