Bruce L. Chamberlin, 61, of Mundelein.

Detectives arrested a registered sex offender from Mundelein after he allegedly used social media to communicate with children and tried to obtain nude photos from them, the sheriff’s office said.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office said they received a tip that Bruce L. Chamberlin, 61, of the 20600 block of West Park Avenue in unincorporated Mundelein, was using social media applications to communicate with others, including children.

An undercover detective, posing as a 14-year-old boy, began communicating with Chamberlin, according to Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli.

Chamberlin then requested a nude photo from the “child.”

Chamberlin also discussed sexual matters with the “child” and discussed meeting with them, Covelli said.

Sheriff’s detectives met with Chamberlin and confirmed he was responsible for sending the messages to the “child.”

Chamberlin was also found to have social media accounts that he failed to disclose as required for his sex offender reporting requirements.

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Chamberlin was charged with grooming, a Class 4 felony, and two counts of violating the sexual offender registry, a Class 3 felony.

He was transported to the Lake County Jail on Wednesday where he was ordered held on a $750,000 bond.

“While the internet has become essential for day-to-day life, it has also given sexual offenders the ability to disguise their true identity, and prey on our most vulnerable,” Sheriff John D. Idleburg said.

“Parents, I cannot stress this enough: please always monitor who your children are communicating with on their apps. There are countless social media apps in existence, and it is so important to know which ones are on your child’s device,” Idleburg added.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office said they received assistance from Mundelein Police Department detectives in the case.

Chamberlin is scheduled to appear in court again on Wednesday.

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