Soliciting A Minor, Grooming Charges Against Joliet Man: Joliet Police

JOLIET, IL — A nine-month-long Joliet Police Department investigation has led to this week's capture and Will County Jail detention of 34-year-old citizen Edward Casillas on two counts of grooming, two counts of solicitation to meet a child, two counts of indecent solicitation of a child and two counts of a crime classified as harmful materials.

According to Thursday's press release from police spokesman Dwayne English, last Sept. 18, the Joliet Police Department was notified of alleged inappropriate communication on social media from Casillas to a 14-year-old girl.

The communication from Casillas escalated to a point of being threatening and sexual in nature, including sending explicit photographs to the victim, English said.

Detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Casillas on May 21. This week, around 9 a.m. on Tuesday, the U.S. Marshals Great Lakes Fugitive Task Force apprehended Casillas at his house in the 1400 block of Maple Road. Detectives then executed a search warrant at the Casillas’ residence.

"The Joliet Police Department would like to thank the US Marshals Great Lakes Fugitive Task Force, Will County Children’s Advocacy Center, and the Will County State’s Attorney Office for their vital assistance in this case," English said.