West Chicago Man Sentenced for 2015 Kidnapping, Sexual Abuse in Lisle: Police

WHEATON, IL — A West Chicago man has been sentenced to 20 years for abducting and sexually abusing children on multiple occasions, DuPage County State's Attorney's Office said. Giuseppe Ressa, 36, formerly of 313 Post Oak Circle, West Chicago, was found guilty March 2 on five counts of child abduction and two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse.

On May 27, 2015, around 7 p.m., Ressa reportedly approached two siblings, a five-year-old-boy and a seven-year old girl as they played on the playground of their apartment complex on Dogwood Drive in Lisle. Police said he touched the girl and offered to give the boy toys if he accompanied Ressa to his car. The boy reportedly began walking to Ressa's car, but stopped after his sister called to him. An older sibling arrived at the playground shortly after and Ressa left, police said.

Ressa was allegedly involved in another incident on June 1. He was under surveillance by detectives when he was seen offering three children candy if they came with him into a different apartment building. Two of the children followed Ressa, but the elder child went home to tell her mother. Detectives said they saw Ressa rub one of the girl's leg and placed him under arrest.

Ressa's sentence was handed down after a two-day bench trial. DuPage County State's Attorney Robert B. Berlin said, "But for the actions of the Lisle Police Department, the case against Mr. Ressa may have had a completely different, tragic ending. Their actions put a stop to Mr. Ressa’s possibly nefarious behavior before he could get started. This case should serve as a notice to parents to remind their children that there are some very dangerous people in the world and that if approached by a stranger, they should immediately get away from that person and tell a trusted adult. I would like to thank the Lisle, West Chicago and Addison Police Departments for their outstanding work on this case. Because of their hard work and cooperative spirit, we were able to mount a very strong prosecution against Mr. Ressa. I would also like to thank Assistant State’s Attorneys Mike Pawl and Cathy DeLaMar for their efforts in holding Mr. Ressa responsible for his disgusting behavior."

Ressa will be eligible for parole after he completes 50% of his sentence.

>>Photo courtesy of DuPage County Police Department