Undercover Internet investigation by Crete Police leads to arrest, felony child solicitation charges
October 31
JOLIET – Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow and Crete Police Chief Paul Vanderaa announce that an undercover Internet sting operation by the Crete Police Department has resulted in felony charges against a 39-year-old man accused of indecent solicitation of a child.
The arrest was Crete’s first undercover Internet predator sting and was the result of a department initiative to send an officer to attend training classes on the identification and investigation of potential Internet predators.
Robert A. Regguinti, 39, of Decatur, was charged with two counts of indecent solicitation of a child earlier this week. He faces up to five years in prison if he is convicted.
The Crete Police Department along with the Decatur Police Department executed a search warrant for computers at Regguinti’s home and office in Decatur on Sunday.
Regguinti appeared in court in Will County earlier this week where Associate Judge Bennett Braun ordered him held on a $100,000 bond. He remains in custody while he awaits trial. Additionally, as a condition of the bond, the judge ordered that Regguinti is to have no contact with children under the age of 18. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Nov. 24 in Courtroom 405.
One of the charges alleges that while using the Internet, he “knowingly discussed an act of sexual conduct” with someone “he believed to be a child.”
“Chief Vanderaa and the Crete Police Department should be commended for fighting the battle against Internet predators,” State’s Attorney Glasgow said. “With constantly evolving technology, the training of our officers provides a crucial component in the defense of our children against manipulative adults who seek them out online.”
“Today’s Internet predators have increasing mobility,” said Chief Vanderaa. “The Crete Police Department is seeking to serve the greater good by helping to apprehend predators not just from Crete, but anywhere they pose a threat to our children.”
Chief Vanderaa thanked the Crete Village Board for providing his department with the backing it needs to send officers to Internet investigation training and provide officers with the computer equipment and software necessary to undertake this type of technical investigation.
The Will County State’s Attorney’s Office reminds the public that charges are not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.