Joliet Man Busted for Soliciting Western Springs Teen for Sex: Police

A Joliet man who made sexual overtures to someone he thought was a 15-year-old girl was arrested last week by the Western Springs Police Department.

Kevin Ethridge, 47, of 1025 Magnolia Ave., was charged Thursday with indecent solicitation of a child following an investigation that began in September 2012.

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A Western Springs police investigator, posing as a 15-year-old girl in an ad on Craigslist, started having a series of online conversations with Ethridge, who began soliciting “indecent liberties,” police said.

"Indecent liberties, as it pertains to this particular investigation, included things such as inappropriate remarks, solicitations to meet up with the child to perform various criminal sexual acts, along with transmitting electronic images of a sexual nature," Deputy Chief Brian Budds said via email.

Western Springs officers, working with investigators from the Major Case Assistance Team, took Ethridge into custody at his home without incident, police said.

In addition to indecent solicitation, Ethridge also faces a count of providing harmful materials to a minor. Both are Class 4 felonies.

Ethridge's bond was set at $100,000 during a hearing at the Cook County 5th District Circuit Court.

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