Alleged abuse began shortly after church deacon's daughter died
WHEATON, Ill. (WLS) -- The ABC7 I-Team has learned disturbing new details in the case of a northwest suburban church deacon accused of molesting a little girl.
Timothy Peltz is being held on $1 million bail on charges he sexually assaulted a girl - starting when she was just 3 years old - over a 10-year period.
In an unusual chronology, the I-Team has learned that the alleged abuse began shortly after Peltz' own baby daughter died shortly after birth.
During the years that the sexual assaults are said to have occurred, Peltz worked as a deacon at a Roselle church and also wrote and recorded gospel music.
On his YouTube channel, Tim Peltz is seen and heard singing gospel songs that he wrote, calling himself "a poet for Christ." In one posted performance, he belts out the Bears' fight song. His most recent congregation was at Living Hope Bible Church in Roselle.
According to DuPage County prosecutors, the Wheaton resident began molesting a little girl 13 years ago when she was just 3 .
Prior to the alleged abuse, Peltz' own daughter Abigail died 13 days after birth, according to the death notice. In Peltz' book of "Inspirational Poems for the Soul" he wrote that Abigail "had many medical problems" and he dedicates the book to his dead daughter.
In DuPage County Court Thursday, authorities said Peltz admitted the assaults began 13 years ago when the girl was 3 and he blamed the young victim for being too affectionate.
Prosecutors said the assaults stopped when the girl was 13 "because she was able to physically resist," but began again within the past several months. Police said the girl eventually reported the assaults to her mother, who filed a complaint.
In Peltz' mugshot he has a lengthy red scar on his neck. According to his Facebook page, that scar is the result of recent neck "fusion" surgery. He claims to be unemployed, but says he is looking to find work.
In his book, Peltz' first chapter is a parent's prayer that calls children "a heritage from the Lord."
DuPage prosecutors said Peltz threatened the young girl that one of them would get in trouble if she disclosed the abuse. If convicted of predatory criminal sexual assault, he faces between 24 years and 120 years in prison.
