Police say a Marengo man solicited a child online, traveled to meet her and then transported her to another town where he sexually abused her.
The Marengo Police Department said they received a report last week for a sexual abuse incident involving a minor.
Marengo Police Department Sgt. Andrew Kjellgren said it was learned that Cristian Ocelotl, 19, of Marengo, had sexual contact with the victim.
Investigators conducted an investigation and found that Ocelotl had communicated with the child on a social media application.
He allegedly then traveled to another town to pick up the child, Kjellgren said.
Kjellgren said Ocelotl transported the minor to another location where the sexual acts occurred.
“We would like to remind the parents and caregivers of minors, to monitor their children’s Internet and social media use,” Kjellgren said.
“There are far too many instances in which minors are being exploited and contacted via the Internet and social media applications,” he added.
A criminal complaint filed in McHenry County Circuit Court alleges Ocelotl used the internet application “WIZZ” to seduce, solicit and entice the child to “hook up.”
Ocelotl knew the child was under 17 years old, the complaint said.
The complaint said Ocelotl also used Snapchat and his cell phone’s messaging application to communicate with the child.
Ocelotl arranged for the girl to “sneak out” of her home without her parents’ knowledge when he picked her up sometime between January 30 and January 31, the complaint said.
The Marengo Police Department arrested Ocelotl on Thursday at his residence in the 400 block of East Prairie Street in Marengo.
He was charged with criminal sexual abuse, traveling to meet a minor, grooming and solicitation to meet a child.
Ocelotl was transported to the McHenry County Jail and appeared in court for an initial appearance.
McHenry County Judge Jennifer Johnson released Ocelotl from custody with pre-trial conditions on Friday.
Ocelotl is scheduled to appear in court again on March 12.