Shorewood Police Bust Child Groomer From Washington State: Chief Explains How It Unfolded

SHOREWOOD, IL — The Shorewood Police Department has announced the arrest of Henry Hoefner, 28, of Cashmere, Washington, on multiple felony charges stemming from an investigation initiated in July 2025. Thursday's announcement came from Shorewood Police Chief Jason Barten.

He said that with the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Will County Sheriff’s Office, Hoefner appeared in court with his defense attorney on Wednesday following an arrest warrant obtained by Shorewood's detectives the prior week.

Shorewood police noted that Hoefner was charged with the following offenses:

• Indecent solicitation of a child
• Indecent solicitation of a child via the Internet
• Grooming
• Solicitation to meet a child

Hoefner was processed at the Shorewood Police Department and subsequently released in compliance with the Illinois SAFE-T Act. Following his court appearance, Hoefner was processed at the Shorewood Police Department and subsequently released in compliance with the Illinois SAFE-T Act after his motion for pre-trial release was granted, Barten noted.