Suspect in Bloomington child molestation case has prior murder conviction

Posted on January 4, 2018

*Bloomington child molestation suspect Andre Banks. (Photo courtesy Bloomington Police Department)*

By Howard Packowitz

BLOOMINGTON – A Bloomington man arrested on child molestation allegations is a convicted killer.

It was revealed in McLean County Court on Thursday that Andre Banks, 53, was convicted in a 1990 Cook County murder case.

Bloomington Police arrested Banks Tuesday. He’s charged with two counts of predatory criminal sexual assault and two more counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse for allegedly molesting a five year old girl he knew in November.

Police are asking the public for more information about Banks because they believe there might be other victims, but there was no mention in court about the possibility of additional sex crimes.

Banks is also charged with failing to report to police that he was a convicted murderer when he moved to a residence in the 600 block of E. Monroe St.

A little more than a year ago, McLean County Judge Scott Drazewski found Banks guilty of a similar registration violation. Court records indicate the judge last February sentenced Banks to a week in jail and two years of conditional discharge, which is less restrictive than probation.

Banks must post a $105,000 cash bond to be released from jail on the latest charges.

Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]

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