Prosecutors say there are at least three victims in the case of a Round Lake Park man charged with trading vaping materials to juveniles in exchange for sex acts and sexually explicit images in Gurnee.
Isai J. Gonzaga, 26, of Round Lake Park, was charged with 26 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a minor, a Class 2 felony.
Gonzaga pleaded not guilty to all charges on Friday in front of Lake County Circuit Judge Daniel Shanes during an arraignment hearing.
The Gurnee Police Department began an investigation into Gonzaga after receiving suspicious behavior tips that he was selling vaping materials to minors.
He would trade the vaping materials and marijuana edibles in exchange for sexual acts or sexually explicit images and videos through Snapchat, according to Gurnee Police Department Spokeswoman Shawn Gaylor and the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office.
The investigation revealed multiple victims between the ages of 13 and 17 years old.
Gonzaga would pick up the victims and drive them to a secondary location for the exchange, Gaylor said.
Gurnee police detectives arrested Gonzaga on March 23 and transported him to the Lake County Jail.
Gonzaga refused to speak with detectives regarding the case at the time of his arrest and a judge ordered him held on a $250,000 bond. He was released from jail after posting $25,000 cash.
During his Friday court hearing, Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Mary Stanton requested Gonzaga’s bond to be raised after the court became aware of a third victim.
Shanes scheduled a bond reviewing hearing for Gonzaga for Thursday.
The Gurnee Police Department said they would like to remind parents of the importance of educating children about the dangers of talking to strangers through social media or online.
Anyone with further information about the case should contact the Gurnee Police Department at 847-599-7000.