Crest Hill Child Sex Crimes Defendant Faces $2 Million Bail

CREST HILL, IL — Michael Diani, a 43-year-old man from Hometown, was arrested last week by the Crest Hill Police Department on two charges of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, plus two charges of child pornography, one count of grooming and one count of sexual exploitation of a child.

According to his charges, Diani engaged in sexual acts with a girl younger than 13 years old during the time frame of Feb. 26, 2019 and Feb. 25, 2020. The second count accuses Diani of having sexual relations with the same girl during the time frame of Feb. 26, 2020 and Feb. 25, 2021.

Diani's two child pornography charges indicate he enticed the young girl to appear in film, videotape, photograph or other similar visual reproduction or depiction by computer, during the time frame of Aug. 16, 2020 through Nov. 5, 2021.

Diani's grooming charge states he used a Facebook to attempt to solicit, seduce, lure or entice the same victim to distribute photographs depicting her sex organs.

The sexual exploitation of a child charge indicates Diani "knowingly coerced, persuaded or enticed ... a child under 13 years of age, to remove her clothing for the purpose of the sexual arousal or gratification of said defendant."

A Will County judge set Diani's bail at $2 million last week.

On Tuesday night, he remained in custody, unable to post the necessary 10 percent, which is $200,000, to regain his freedom. Diani's next appearance at the Will County Courthouse has been set for Jan. 13 in Courtroom 405 of Will County Judge Dave Carlson.