69-Year-Old Man Accused of Assaulting Girl for 5 Years

A Chicago man accused of sexually assaulting a child somewhere in Worth Township for five years, giving her expensive gifts in exchange for "heart kisses," is being held on bail of $500,000, according to the Cook County sheriff.

Spyridon Spyropoulos, 69, of the 10400 block of South Spaulding, has been charged with one count of predatory criminal sexual assault.

Cook County Sheriff’s Police began investigating after the victim told a parent that Spyropoulos, who was the boyfriend of a relative, was insisting on “heart kisses” in return for gifts. “Heart Kisses” was Spyropoulos’ euphemism for a sexual assault, according to a release from the sheriff's department.

The victim told police the assaults took place over the course of nearly five years, from age 7 until 11. The victim also said Spyropoulos would give expensive gifts and request “heart kisses” based on the cost of the gift, according to police. Every gift was worth a minimum of two “heart kisses," police said. The victim, now 14, did not come forward earlier based on feelings of fault for accepting the gifts from Spyropoulos.

Spyropoulos appeared in Bridgeview courthouse on Feb. 17. His next court date is March 10.