Villa Park Teen Reports She Was Sexually Abused by Man She Met Online

Bond has been set at $500,000 for a Joliet man accused of having inappropriate sexual contact with a 13-year-old girl from Villa Park.

Joshua Scheun, 36, of 4363 Timber Ridge Court, Joliet, appeared in DuPage bond court on Saturday morning. He is charged with six counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, a Class 2 Felony; two counts of traveling to meet a minor, a Class 3 Felony; and one count of solicitation to meet a child, a Class 4 Felony.

It is alleged that on March 18, Scheun met his victim through an on-line social networking site. Prosecutors say that on March 22 Scheun traveled to the victim’s home town of Villa Park to meet with her for the first time. He allegedly sexually abused the victim in his car, and on several other occasions in the following days. The alleged abuse came to light when the victim disclosed the relationship to a school counselor, who immediately contacted the victim’s parents and the Villa Park Police Department, who in turn contacted the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office.

Villa Park police and the DuPage County Children’s Center investigated the claims, which resulted in the charges being filed.
               
“The allegations in this case should remind all of us to be vigilant when surfing the Internet,” DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said. “Sexual predators troll social networking websites looking for their next victim and it is our responsibility as parents to know what our children are doing on the Internet and to teach them what is and is not acceptable behavior."

He thanked the victim, "who is barely a teenager," for coming forward, and the Villa Park Police Department, particularly Det. William Lyons, for "outstanding work on this case."

Scheun’s next court date is scheduled for June 17, in front of Judge Kathryn Creswell. Should Scheun post bond, additional conditions include home confinement and no usage of a computer or any other device capable of accessing the Internet.

Information provided by the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office

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