Des Plaines man charged with grooming, sexual abuse of a minor

A Des Plaines man was charged with sending sexually explicit messages to an investigator posing as a 13-year-old boy.

John Kaspari, 69, was arrested Tuesday when he went to meet an individual he believed was a 13-year-old boy, according to a statement from the Cook County sheriff’s office.

Sherriff’s police learned a teenage boy was receiving inappropriate messages from Kaspari and investigators took over the conversation on April 7, the sheriff’s office said.

Kaspari allegedly continued to send sexually explicit messages to a person he thought was the teen, and suggested the two meet in person, agreeing not to tell the boy’s mother, the sheriff’s office said.

Investigators set up a meeting Tuesday at a location in Franklin Park and took Kaspari into custody when he arrived.

Kaspari allegedly told investigators he had child pornography on his phone, and multiple images and videos were recovered, according to the sheriff’s office.

Kaspari was charged with felony counts of possession of child pornography, aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a minor, indecent solicitation of a minor, traveling to meet a minor, and grooming a minor, the sheriff’s office said.

He was scheduled to appear in bond court Friday.