Barrington Man Arrested for Sexual Exploitation of a Child

A Barrington resident is awaiting a bond hearing today on charges of Grooming and Sexual Exploitation of a Child.

McHenry County Sheriff’s Department have arrested Jack K. Pickup, 34, of the 100 block of East Liberty Street. Police say he was communicating with a 15-year-old girl by email and text messages. The girl was a former student of Pickups at Chippewa Middle School in Des Plaines, where Pickup used to be a teacher.

Investigators learned that Pickup has had an online relationship with the girl since 2011, and had been text messaging her since she graduated from 8^th grade. In June of this year, officials say Pickup began sending sexually explicit text messages with the victim, including a photo of his genitals. Investigators arrested Pickup at his parent’s home in Barrington.

“The parents of this victim should be commended for monitoring their child’s online and texting conversations. We encourage parents to maintain vigilance and continue to remind their children of the possible dangers of social media,” said Undersheriff Andrew Zinke.  

Pickup is being held at the McHenry County Jail.