Sex Offender Accused Of Requesting Nude Photo From Kid: Police

LAKE COUNTY, IL — A sex offender faces new charges in Lake County after he requested a nude photo from a person who he thought was an underage boy, authorities said.

Bruce Chamberlin, 61, of the 20600 block of West Park Avenue in unincorporated Mundelein, is accused of using social media applications to communicate with children, according to the Lake County Sheriff's Office news release. One of the people he ended up conversing with, who he thought was a 14-year-old boy, was an undercover detective.

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Chamberlin is accused of requesting a nude photo from him, talking about sexual matters and trying to get him to meet up, according to the news release. Authorities also learned Chamberlin had social media accounts he hadn't disclosed to authorities, which is required under sex offender reporting requirements, according to authorities.

“While the internet has become essential for day-to-day life, it has also given sexual offenders the ability to disguise their true identity, and prey on our most vulnerable," said Lake County Sheriff John Idleburg.

Detectives ended up meeting with Chamberlin and taking him into custody.

Following Chamberlin's arrest, authorities are reminding parents to remember to monitor children's communication over apps.

"There are countless social media apps in existence, and it is so important to know which ones are on your child’s device," Idleburg said.

Chamberlin remains behind bars on a $750,000 bail on charges of grooming, a class 4 felony, and two counts of violating the sexual offender registry, class 3 felonies.

Chamberlin is next expected in court on Nov. 24.

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