DUPAGE CO., Illinois. – TO DuPage County The judge ordered a chicago man who has been accused of trying to solicit sex from a teenager be confined in jail.
Judge Joshua Dieden granted prosecutors’ motion to deny pretrial release to Derrick Willman, 58, a registered sex offender, according to the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office.
Willman appeared in court last Friday after being charged with indecent solicitation of aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a child, traveling to meet a minor, communicating over the Internet as a child sex offender and grooming.
Prosecutors said Downers Grove Police posed as “Melissa,” a 13-year-old girl, in an online chat room and were contacted by Willman. Even though “Melissa” told Willman she was in eighth grade, he said he wanted to meet her.
Willman allegedly asked “do you want to make love?” and sent other messages of a sexual nature to “Melissa,” prosecutors said.
After submitting a photo of himself, police learned he must register as a sexual predator for life after a 2023 conviction in Minnesota for soliciting a child.
Willman reportedly agreed to meet with “Melissa” last Thursday.
On Thursday, Willman allegedly arrived at the parking lot of a Downers Grove hotel where he agreed to meet. He did not enter the hotel and left the parking lot approximately an hour later.
After he left, Downers Grove police stopped Willman’s car and arrested him.
“Without a doubt, the Internet has become an easily accessible necessity and part of everyday life for millions of people,” DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin said in a statement. “Unfortunately, this convenience and society’s reliance on the Internet comes at a price. While this case did not involve a thirteen-year-old girl, it reminds us all how easy it can be for predators, as alleged in this case, reach our children without their parents’ knowledge.
Willman’s next court appearance is scheduled for January 27.
