Man Charged With Sexual Abuse At Madison County Rest Area

MADISON COUNTY – A Chicago-area man accused of sexually abusing someone at a Madison County rest area has been charged and released from custody.

Bowala Rakkitha, 49, of Bolingbrook, Ill., was charged on Feb. 18, 2026 with one count each of criminal sexual abuse (a Class 4 felony) and aggravated battery (a Class 3 felony).

Rakkitha allegedly committed an act of sexual conduct by touching a 24-year-old victim who was “unable to give knowing consent” on Aug. 18, 2025, according to charging documents. The incident reportedly occurred at the Homestead Rest Area along Interstate 55, just south of Hamel in Madison County.

A motion was filed on Feb. 18, 2026 to seal the court file in this case; according to the motion, Rakkitha posed a risk of flight from prosecution if his name had been made public prior to his arrest.

The Madison County State’s Attorney’s office filed a petition to deny Rakkitha’s pretrial release from custody. According to the petition, the victim reported to Illinois State Police troopers that Rakkitha “was peering through the slots of his bathroom stall” before waiting for the victim outside and inviting him back to Rakkitha’s vehicle, where the act of sexual conduct reportedly occurred.

During a police interview on Jan. 7, 2026, Rakkitha allegedly said he “doesn’t really remember being at the rest area” and was “not forthcoming about being in Southern Illinois.”

“When confronted with surveillance footage, he admitted to being there, talking with the victim, inviting the victim into his car, but denied any touching occurring, other than a handshake,” the petition states.

On Feb. 27, 2026, Rakkitha was ordered released from custody pending trial “by agreement,” according to the Release Order filed in this case. Under the conditions of his release, he was ordered to surrender his passport to the Illinois State Police immediately upon his release from the Madison County Jail.

All individuals charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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