A Kane County Sheriff’s Office and U.S. Marshals task force has tracked down a 40-year-old former St. Charles Township man now charged with the 2018 sexual assault of a woman he met via an internet dating service.

The area where officials say the sexual assault took place. (CREDIT: Google Maps)

According to a Kane County Sheriff’s Office news release, officials allege that Samuel Helland, who resided in the 6N900 block of Jackson Ave., St Charles, invited a woman to his residence on July 31, 2018, after meeting that evening through the online dating service.

Sheriff’s Office officials say Helland sexually assaulted the victim, who immediately filed a police report, then was treated and released from Delnor Hospital.

Officials say Helland left the area during the course of the investigation, and detectives acquired a $250,000 arrest warrant.

Early in 2019, the Kane County Sheriff’s Office assigned one deputy to the U.S. Marshall’s Chicago Task Force to aid in the apprehension of major fugitives from justice.

Sheriff’s detectives and the Task Force agent worked to track down Helland in New York state, where he was taken into custody the morning of Dec. 19, 2019.

Kane County Sheriff Ron Hain said Helland will be extradited back to Kane County to await trial.

“Collaboration and task-forcing with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies is essential to public safety and the apprehension of major criminals,” Hain said.

The charges against Helland are not proof of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the State’s burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

SOURCE: Kane County Sheriff’s Office news release