Child Sex Offender Found Sitting In Park Near Kids Day Camp: Cops

BURBANK, IL — A registered child sex offender from Burbank was arrested after he was found hanging around a park Monday afternoon yelling at patrons, prosecutors said. Robert Woodrum, 49, appeared before Cook County Judge John Mahoney on a felony charge of a child sex offender in a public park. Registered child sex offenders are prohibited from being in parks or near schools where children are present.

Park district officials called police around 2:30 p.m. to report a suspicious person hanging Burbank Water Park, 6100 W. 85th St. When officers arrived, they found a man, later identified as Woodrum, whom they recognized as a registered sex offender, Burbank police said in a news release.

Witnesses told police that Woodrum was sitting on a park bench smoking cigarettes and trying to engage parents of young children in conversation. Woodrum was taken into police custody pending further investigation. Due to Woodrum sitting near a summer day camp session, the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office approved one felony count of prohibited presence within a school zone by a child sex offender. Police said Woodrum acknowledged that he knew he wasn't supposed to be sitting there.

The prosecutor said Woodrum was convicted in 2000 of multiple counts child abduction after luring children as young as 8 into his apartment and videotaping them.

“You’re a clear and present danger to society,” Mahoney said.

The judge set a cash bond of $250,000, requiring the full amount to be paid. Woodrum’s next court date it July 30 in Bridgeview.