WINFIELD POLICE AND MADIGAN'S OFFICE ARREST ALLEGED ONLINE CHILD PREDATOR

Chicago – The Winfield Police Department with assistance from Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force arrested Jorge Paniagua, 36, of Elmwood Park, Thursday, when he attempted to meet with what he believed to be a child he first met on the Internet.  Paniagua met the child in an online chat room, and then traveled to a Winfield park with the intent to have sex with the child, at which time he was arrested.  The child was in fact an undercover Winfield Police detective.
 
Paniagua was charged with one count of Indecent Solicitation of a Child, a Class 3 felony, punishable by a maximum of five years in the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC). 

Following the arrest, a search warrant was issued for Paniagua’s computers.  A forensic search of the computers will be conducted by Madigan’s office.
           
Paniagua appeared in DuPage County Bond Court this morning where bond was set at $150,000.  He is being held in the DuPage County Jail.  The Office of DuPage County State’s Attorney Joe Birkett is prosecuting the case.

To report online child exploitation, please send an e-mail to illinoisicactip@atg.state.il.us or call the CyberTipline at 1-800-843-5678.

The public is reminded that these charges are merely accusations.  The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

-30-