Romeoville Man Sent Explicit Texts To Children He Met At Walmart, Later Offered Them Alcohol: Police

ROMEOVILLE, IL — A Romeoville man has been charged with grooming and traveling to meet a minor after an investigation started in March, the Will County Sheriff's Office said.

Chancijie Preston, 52, was arrested Tuesday on a warrant for charges of traveling to meet a minor, indecent solicitation of a child and grooming.

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The sheriff's office said the investigation started on March 13 when a school resource officer at a Plainfield high school contacted the sheriff's office about a report of an incident involving a student.

The juvenile reported inappropriate contact with an adult that happened in February, the sheriff's office said.

Police learned that Preston had met several children at the Romeoville Walmart, and began to inappropriately communicate with them, the sheriff's office said.

Preston gave his phone number to the children, and was only known as "CP" to them at the time, police said. The children and Preston would communicate via Snapchat and text message.

The conversations turned sexual in nature, and Preston sent sexually explicit photos via electronic communication, police said.

Preston also met with the children on one occasion at the Romeoville Culver's and the Ace Hardware. He offered alcohol to the victims during this meeting, the sheriff's office said.

Detectives obtained a warrant for Preston last week, and he was arrested and taken to the Will County Adult Detention Facility on Tuesday.