Former Naperville Man Found Guilty Of Sexually Abusing Teen

NAPERVILLE, IL — A former Naperville resident was found guilty by a jury Thursday of sexually abusing a teen girl in 2019. Following three hours of deliberation, James Nead, 30, was convicted of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, solicitation to meet a child and traveling to meet a child.

Authorities say that in June of 2019, Nead messaged the 13-year-old girl on Snapchat and subsequently exchanged pictures with her. Nead was accused of threatening to share the photos if the girl did not meet him in person.

Nead and the girl met at a strip mall close to her home on June 28. According to a news release, the girl got into Nead's car, where he abused her sexually before returning to the strip mall to drop her off.

The girl blocked Nead via Snapchat after the incident, but he used another account to contact her. He asked her to meet him and threaten her about the photos again.

Police say the girl's father reported the incident afterwards.

“This afternoon, a jury found that Mr. Nead sexually abused a thirteen-year-old girl he had met anonymously through a social media website,” DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said in a statement.

He added, “It is my hope that this very disturbing case will serve as a reminder to parents to monitor their children’s internet usage and be aware of whom their children are communicating with on social media. I commend the young victim in this case for bringing this matter to the attention of adults and for her strength and courage in confronting the man who sexually abused her."

Nead is set to appear for post-trial motions on Aug. 31.