Elwood's Former Mayor Pursued Minors For Sex: Grundy County

JOLIET, IL — Former Elwood Mayor Todd Matichak turned himself into authorities at the Joliet Police Department late Thursday afternoon in connection with felony charges of traveling to meet a minor in neighboring Grundy County.

The charges against Matichak are being prosecuted in Morris, not Joliet.

According to Joliet's Police Department, the 52-year-old Peotone man turned himself in at the Joliet police substation on Caton Farm Road where he was arrested and released after posting a $2,000 cash bond.

A Morris radio station, WSCJ, reported that an adult posing as a child set up a meeting with Matichak in Diamond, Ill., for the purposes of meeting for sex. According to WCSJ, the meeting involving Matichak was filmed on video and authorities were able to get information from Matichak's vehicle.

Back in April 2017, the voters of Elwood elected Matichak into political office thinking he would represent their community's interests, but he decided he was not cut out for the job that December. "I made this decision solely in what's best for myself and my family. It was a very difficult and emotional decision," Matichak informed 1340 WJOL in a prepared statement.