December 05, 2021
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Police: Child sex offender arrested after seeking photo from ‘child’

Unincorporated Mundelein man believed he was communicating with 14-year-old boy

By Lake County Journal

Bruce L. Chamberlin, 61, of unincorporated Mundelein (Photo provided)

MUNDELEIN -- Lake County Sheriff’s Detectives arrested a registered child sexual offender after he requested a nude photo from who he thought was an underage boy.

Detectives received a tip that Bruce L. Chamberlin, 61, of the 20600 block of West Park Avenue, unincorporated Mundelein, was using social media applications to communicate with others, including children, according to a news release.

Chamberlin struck up a conversation with someone he thought was an underage child; however, it was an undercover detective posing as a 14-year-old boy. Chamberlin requested a nude photo from the “boy.” Additionally, Chamberlin discussed sexual matters with the “boy” and discussed meeting with him, police said.

Sheriff’s detectives met with Chamberlin and determined that he was responsible for sending the messages to the “boy.” Additionally, Chamberlin was found to have social media accounts he failed to disclose as required per his sexual offender reporting requirements, according to the release.

Chamberlin was charged with grooming (Class 4 felony) and two counts of violating the sexual offender registry (Class 3 felonies). He was transported to the Lake County Jail on Nov. 17.

He was bein held in the Lake County Jail on $750,000, after appearing at a Nov. 18 bond hearing. Chamberlin is next due in court Nov. 24.

“While the internet has become essential for day-to-day life, it has also given sexual offenders the ability to disguise their true identity, and prey on our most vulnerable,” Lake County Sheriff John D. Idleburg said in the release. “Parents, I cannot stress this enough: please always monitor who your children are communicating with on their apps. There are countless social media apps in existence, and it is so important to know which ones are on your child’s device.”

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office thanks Mundelein Police detectives who assisted in this investigation and conducted follow-up, which assisted sheriff’s detectives in locating and apprehending Chamberlin.