Registered Sex Offender Accused of Soliciting Girl On Craigslist

EVERGREEN PARK, IL -- A registered sex offender whose been convicted before for indecent solicitation of a child has been accused again of soliciting minors for sex on Craigslist. Jose Figueroa, 32, appeared before Cook County Judge Peter Felice on a felony charge of indecent solicitation of a child. Figueroa, who lives on Chicago’s North Side, was convicted of the same offense in 2011, according to the Illinois Sex Offender Registry.

The prosecutor said Evergreen Park police began their investigation after seeing an ad that Figueroa had posted on Craigslist, stating that he was “IN SEARCH OF YOUNG GIRLS-MALE FOR WOMAN-FROM ANDERSONVILLE.” Figueroa also included in the ad that he “wanted to have intercourse with young girls" and "age is just a number," according to the charges.

Evergreen Park police were able to connect with Figueroa through email, posing as a 14-year-old girl named “Taylor,” the prosecutor said. According to police, Figueroa sent two photos of himself and two photos of his penis. He also asked for Taylor to send him photos of her breasts and vagina in return.

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Police said Figueroa asked the girl if she was still a virgin, and if she wanted to have sex. Figueroa arranged to meet the girl as 111th Street and Pulaski, but was hesitant and worried about police, the prosecutor said. He told Taylor that when she got in his car she had to grab him right away.

The prosecutor said police were surveilling the area and saw Figueroa’s vehicle in a BP gas station near the planned meeting area. Figueroa texted “Taylor” and told her to meet him at a nearby bank instead. Police said Figueroa could be seen using his phone and then received a message from him asking “how far are you?”

Police moved in on Figueroa and took him into custody. He was within 500 feet of Chicago Agricultural High School, the prosecutor said. Figueroa allegedly admitted to placing the ad on Craigslist from his iPad and sending photos of himself. The prosecutor said Figueroa claimed to have had 25 to 40 encounters with young girls, but denied having sexual contact with them. Figueroa received nude photos from girls on his iPad but deleted them, police said. Search warrants have been obtained for his iPad and Galaxy smartphone.

The assistant public defender told the judge that Figueroa lives with his father on Chicago’s North Side. He has a degree in communications and has worked as a freelance photographer.

Figueroa was convicted of indecent solicitation of a child in 2011. The victim was 12 and Figueroa was 25 at the time of the offense, according to the sex offender registry. Felice set bail at $1 million. Figueroa was also ordered not to have contact with children under 18 and is prohibited from using the Internet. Figueroa’s next court date is Nov. 22.

“I find him to be a danger to the community,” Felice said.