Chicago Man Held in Attack on Gold Coast Woman

By Gerry Smith, Chicago Tribune

Jul. 19–A Chicago man was ordered held in lieu of $500,000 bail Saturday in connection with an attack on a Gold Coast woman this week.

But Cook County Judge Ramon Ocasio also ordered James Castaldo be held without bail for violating the conditions of his bail in connection with a July 2007 case in which he was accused of using a woman’s credit cards.

In the Gold Coast attack, Castaldo, 48, of the 5300 block of North Damen Avenue was charged with aggravated criminal sexual abuse, aggravated battery, armed robbery, felony marijuana possession and unlawful use of a weapon by a felon, authorities said.

Police said he attacked the woman about 2:30 a.m Tuesday as she tried to enter her apartment near Schiller and State Streets. Castaldo struck the woman in the head with a metal flashlight, knocking her unconscious, then kicked her in the face and torso, Cook County Assistant State’s Atty. Mary Anna Planey said Saturday in Bond Court.

Castaldo exposed himself and fondled the woman before and after the attack and later called a friend of the victim with her cell phone, according to Planey and the complaint.

The victim was hospitalized with a skull fracture, a black eye and scratches on her face, Planey said.

Castaldo is scheduled to appear in court Thursday on the Gold Coast charge.

In August 2007, Castaldo was charged with using the stolen credit cards of a woman assaulted in the Lakeview neighborhood, police said.

gfsmith@tribune.com

—–

To see more of the Chicago Tribune, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.chicagotribune.com.

Copyright (c) 2008, Chicago Tribune

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.