PLAINFIELD – Authorities have charged a 21-year-old Lockport man after police say the man had sex with a 14-year-old girl earlier this year.
Plainfield Police Sgt. Mike Fisher said Justin J. Bell, of the 1300 block of Highland Avenue, contacted the girl through social media and they began talking. According to court records, Bell and the girl had sex on Jan. 27 in Plainfield.
"About 7 p.m. on May 4, the mother discovered he'd been covertly communicating with her over [phone] apps and contacted our officers," Fisher said. "We learned Bell had arranged to meet with her at [Plainfield Central] high school around that time and officers went to the school to speak with him."
Bell was questioned and admitted having sexual contact with the girl, Fisher said. A Joliet detective also spoke with him regarding meetings between them within Joliet.
Bell was arrested on charges of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, indecent solicitation of a minor and traveling to meet a minor for sexual purposes. He is being held in the county jail on $100,000 bond.