Woman arrested on charges of inappropriate relationship with a minor

JOLIET TOWNSHIP – A 37-year-old woman was arrested Wednesday on charges related to what police allege is an inappropriate relationship with a minor.

Will County Sheriff’s Deputy Chief Ken Kaupas said the investigation began last week after a relative of the victim, a 15-year-old boy whom the woman facing charges knows, contacted police.

“There was an allegation of inappropriate sexual contact between the teen and an adult,” Kaupas said.

Jacqueline Epting, an acquaintance of the victim, was arrested on a charge of distributing harmful material to a minor after investigators found sexually explicit photographs she had sent to the victim’s cellphone, Kaupas said.

Kaupas said Epting, of the 100 block of Carriage Lane, also is expected to face a felony count of predatory criminal sexual assault but that charge had not been filed as of Friday. Epting was released from the Will County Jail on Thursday night after posting $10,000 bond.