BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (WMBD) — A Bloomington man was arrested Wednesday after a months-long online child solicitation investigation.
On July 22, Jeremy M. Burks, 51, was arrested on charges including grooming and solicitation, said Bryce Janssen, a spokesman for the Bloomington Police Department.
On Feb. 8, a predator watchdog group contacted the police department, claiming that Burks had interacted with one of its decoy social media accounts that was portraying a 13-year-old girl.
Police met with representatives of the watchdog group, interviewed Burks, and conducted their own investigation. Janssen said Burks is alleged to have initiated contact with the account, made several sexually explicit statements, and sent explicit pictures of himself.
Detectives executed several search warrants as part of the investigation, and an arrest warrant was issued for Burks on July 22.
Janssen said Burks was arrested without incident in the 1900 block of Tracy Drive. he was taken to the McLean County Jail, where he remains in custody. He will appear in court on Thursday, July 23.
WMBD TV first reported this story. You can read the original story online at CIProud.com.
