Wheaton Rape Suspect Seeks Bail Reduction

A 22-year-old Wheaton man accused of sexually assaulting a teen girl last year wants a judge to reduce his $1 million bail because of his family ties, which include a child born two weeks before his arrest.

Chet Magar and two other men—21-year-old Gyan Magar and 29-year-old Dambar Pithakotey—are charged with aggravated criminal sexual assault in connection to a September incident inside a Wheaton apartment, prosecutors have said.

Chet Magar and Pithakotey are each held in DuPage County Jail on $1 million bail, while Gyan Magar is held on $2 million. Chet Magar has requested a March 18 hearing to seek a reduction of his bail to $100,000.

In the motion, Chet Magar’s attorney states Magar has lived with his parents and siblings in Wheaton for the last five years after emigrating from Nepal. In that time, Magar has married and became a father in mid-February. Magar works as a laborer to support his family, the motion explains.

The Daily Herald reported Thursday Gyan Magar admitted he raped the 16-year-old girl victim in a text message, according to prosecutors.

Assistant State's Attorney Anne Therieau said Magar took the victim to an apartment in September. Magar began kissing the victim and when she told him to stop, Chet Magar and Pithakotey entered the room. Therieau said men then sexually assaulted her while Magar held her down by the shoulders, according to the Herald.

Prosecutors have not yet filed a formal response to the motion. Neither Gyan Magar nor Pithakotey have filed similar requests to reduce bail.

Court records show Pithakotey is on court supervision after pleading guilty in January to a misdemeanor battery charge stemming from a 2011 domestic violence incident with his wife. Prosecutors accused Pithakotey of slapping his wife in the face and hitting her in the stomach.