DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin and Downers Grove Police Chief Michael DeVries announced that Judge Joshua Deeden granted the state's motion to deny pretrial release for a Chicago-based registered sex offender accused of luring and attempting to meet a person he believed was thirteen years old. General. – An elderly girl for the purpose of performing sexual acts. Derek Wellman, age 58, of the 100 block of North Clark Street, appeared in First Appearance Court last Friday afternoon, January 3, 2024, charged with one count of indecent solicitation of criminal sexual assault of a child (a class 3 felony). ), one count of Traveling to Meet a Minor (Class 3 Felony), one count of Child Sex Offender – Online Communication (Class 4 Felony), and one count of Grooming. (Class 4 Felony).
Through their ongoing efforts to monitor the Internet for sexual predators, posing as “Melissa,” a thirteen-year-old girl, in an online chat room for teens, the Downers Grove Police Department was allegedly contacted by someone with the username “ChiGuy.” “. , later identified as Wellman. Melissa allegedly told Wellman she was in eighth grade, but Wellman nonetheless told her he wanted to meet her. During their conversations, Wellman allegedly asked “Melissa, 'Do you want to make love?' Other messages of a sexual nature were sent to “Melissa.” After Wellman sent a photo of himself, authorities learned he had a lifetime requirement to register as a sexual predator stemming from a 2023 Minnesota felony case of soliciting a child in person, via computer or online. Authorities also learned that Wellman is currently serving a five-year probation term in the case. It is alleged that at some point, Wellman and “Melissa” arranged to meet on January 2, 2025. At approximately 6:10 p.m., January 2, 2025, Wellman arrived at the parking lot of the Downers Grove Hotel where the two had planned to meet. Wellman did not enter the hotel and left the parking lot about an hour later. After Wellman left the hotel parking lot, Downers Grove police conducted a traffic stop at which time he was taken into custody.
“There is no doubt that the Internet has become an accessible necessity and part of everyday life for millions of people. Unfortunately, this convenience and society's reliance on the Internet comes at a price. Although this case did not involve a thirteen-year-old girl, it did As a reminder to all of us how easy it is for predators, as alleged in this case, to gain access to our children without their parents' knowledge. I encourage parents to talk to their children about online safety and to instruct their children to be careful when communicating with others via online chat rooms or other platforms. Online platforms. I commend the Downers Grove Police Department for their outstanding police work in building a strong case against Mr. Wellman and for their continued efforts to protect the public from those who would harm our children. I thank Assistant Prosecutor Grace Barsanti for her work on this case as well.
— DuPage County State's Attorney Robert P. Berlin
“I would like to thank our team of investigators for their continued efforts to proactively identify and investigate Internet crimes against children. Their diligence over several months led to the arrest of a registered sex offender believed to have been soliciting a sexual act from a minor and who traveled to Downers Grove in an attempt to do so. The Downers Grove Police Department will continue to do everything we can to protect children and hold those who seek to harm them accountable for their actions. I would also like to thank DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin and his office for their assistance In this investigation.
– Downers Grove Police Chief Michael DeVries
Wellman is scheduled to appear in court on January 27, 2025, before Judge Joseph Bogus.
Members of the public are reminded that these complaints contain only accusations and are not evidence of the defendant's guilt. The accused is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which the burden of proving his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt falls on the government.
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