Ex-Elmhurst School Janitor Wanted Sexual Encounter With Girl: Video

ELMHURST, IL – A group called Bikers Against Predators got a former Elmhurst school janitor to admit a couple of months ago that he tried to have a sexual encounter with a 12-year-old, a video shows.

Two representatives of the Indiana-based group livestreamed Andrew P. Barrett, 58, on Facebook.

Barrett took their questions about his attempted meet-up with a decoy named "Gabby." At first, Barrett said he thought she was 6.

On Jan. 29, Barrett was charged with indecent solicitation of a child and grooming. He remains in the DuPage County Jail.

He worked as a janitor for Elmhurst School District 205 for 35 years, ending his career at Bryan Middle School in 2021.

Bikers Against Predators have decoy accounts on several websites, including Meet24. Meet24 is a dating app where Barrett started a conversation with Gabby.

Barrett, a 1984 York High School graduate, tried to find Gabby at an address in neighboring Northlake, but said he was given the wrong address.

About 10 p.m. Jan. 29, Barrett returned from his futile mission to his apartment complex at 999 S. Euclid Ave.

The Bikers Against Predators representatives were there to meet Barrett, with one of them doing most of the talking and wearing a camera. The man, who did not identify himself in the recording, presented himself as a mediator between Barrett and Gabby and her family.

The representative was polite, saying he just wanted to figure out what was going on. He said he wasn't trying to get the police involved.

"It's completely voluntary to talk to me," the man said.

Barrett, a convenience store clerk in Oakbrook Terrace, agreed to let the two men into his third-floor apartment.

As they walked up the stairs, the main representative asked about Barrett, who said he had retired from the school district.

"Congratulations on your retirement," the man said.

When they sat down, the man tried to put Barrett at ease.

"We're not police. It could be a police operation. Luckily for you, it is not," the man said.

Police records show Gabby identified as a 12-year-old who was in sixth grade.

In speaking with Bikers Against Predators, Barrett admitted to communicating with Gabby through Meet24 and by text message. He confirmed that he said he wanted to French kiss the girl and asked her whether he should wear underwear during their encounter.

At one point, Barrett acknowledged asking Gabby whether she was setting him up for the police. And he confirmed that he told Gabby not to tell her mother or her friends about him.

The man pressed Barrett.

"Dude, we're both guys here. I'm a guy, and you're a guy," he said. "If you're going to go over there and feel up on her and make out and whatever happens, was that pretty much what was going to happen?"

"Kind of," Barrett responded.

About not wearing underwear, the man asked, "We're both guys. If I'm not wearing underwear going to my girl's house, it's probably because I'm looking to have sex, right?"

"Right," Barrett said.

The man then asked, "You're a good guy. If she gave you the right address and you went over there, you could probably have been in some sexual acts?"

Again, Barrett said the man was correct.

When the man asked whether the sexual acts would have been consensual, Barrett confirmed that was the case.

After about 20 minutes, the other Bikers representative said he would go to his car and get Barrett business cards from their organization, so they could help him.

But the other man did not return. Not long after, Barrett noticed police outside. He stood up for a moment.

The representative in the room assured Barrett that his partner would "get them out of here." He said he would vouch for Barrett.

"I think you're a good dude and you don't mean any trouble," the man said.

After about 45 minutes, officers showed up at Barrett's apartment.

Shortly after, the Bikers representative spoke with officers in the hallway, telling them what he had learned. It appeared officers had watched some of the live Facebook video before they entered.

The main Bikers representative then went outside and watched officers' interactions with Barrett through the third-floor window. Barrett was handcuffed.

When Barrett emerged from the building, at least eight officers could be seen with him.

"Look at all those officers," the representative said. "They brought the fricking force down here. There's not much going on in this little town. That's no offense. That means they're doing s--- right here, keeping their streets clean."

No trial date has been set.