Aurora Man Charged With Sexually Abusing Girl, 16: Report

AURORA, IL — An Aurora man has been charged with grooming and sexual abuse after he allegedly planned a staged kidnapping to flee to Georgia with a 16-year-old girl, Daily Herald reports. Anthony Popela, 21, of the 3000 block of Derby Court is also accused of giving the girl a cellphone so they could talk illicitly without her parents knowing.

Police say Popela sent a message to the girl that read, "We have now developed the beginning of a foolproof plan but some of it depends on u Are you in?" A friend of the girl reportedly became aware of her plan to flee with Popela and told the teen's parents.

Later that day, the girl was found at Popela's Aurora home and he was arrested.

Popela, who is out on bond, is set to appear in court again on Nov. 20.

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