Joliet Man's Solicitation Arrest May Mean 2021 Ford Escape Forfeiture

JOLIET, IL — A 33-year-old Joliet man may lose his 2021 Ford Escape to the Will County State's Attorney's Office following a civil forfeiture complaint filed in recent days against Mario Rubio, who remains in the Will County Jail on charges of indecent solicitation of a child.

Rubio was taken away in handcuffs by Will County Sheriff's detectives on May 19.

According to the forfeiture complaint:

Back on March 25, Will County Sheriff's detectives Nick Binnendyk and Shaun Moran met with Illinois Parole Agent Joe Pate who notified them Rubio was on parole from the Illinois Department of Corrections for a predatory criminal sexual assault crime and Rubio has software on his electronic device that screenshots his internet use every 30 seconds.

The parole agent relayed that he learned of a Facebook Messenger conversation between Rubio and a 15-year-old girl regarding prior sexual intercourse between them. During the conversation, the girl confirmed to Rubio that she was born in 2007, making her 15 at the time they had sex "and that he could go to jail for having sex with a minor."

On April 17, the victim's mother met with Detective Binnendyk and she signed a consent to assume online presence, allowing the Will County Sheriff's detective to assume her daughter's online Facebook Messenger presence.

On May 19, after several conversations between the detective and Rubio, deputies arranged for Rubio to meet them at the Dunkin' Donuts at 2401 South Chicago Street in Joliet in an attempt to take him into custody. At 12:15 p.m., Rubio arrived, driving his 2021 Ford Escape and he parked in the alley near One Stop, also at 2401 South Chicago St.

The Will County detectives made a traffic stop and Rubio was arrested without any problems and his vehicle was seized at the time. Rubio lives in the 100 block of Girard Boulevard.

According to the court records, Will County prosecutors are asking that a judge declare Rubio's vehicle be sold at public auction, destroyed or delivered to a police agency here in Illinois.

"The above facts meet the elements of indecent solicitation of a child in that Mario Rubio is over the age of 17, and with the intent that the offense of predatory criminal sexual assault be committed, knowingly solicited a child ... a 15 year old female, to perform an act of a sexual nature."