On June 12, 2017, Steve W. Spoerl, 53, of the 24700 block of West Townline Road, unincorporated Round Lake, was arrested for a sexual offense involving a juvenile.

Lake County Sheriff’s Detectives investigated Spoerl for having a possible sexual relationship with a female juvenile. An extensive investigation revealed Spoerl was active on the social media application ‘Whisper.’ He utilized ‘Whisper’ to begin a conversation with the juvenile. Spoerl made arrangements to meet the juvenile and picked her up near her home.

Spoerl then drove the juvenile to a hotel in Waukegan, where he engaged in sexual conduct with her. During the investigation, sheriff’s detectives found nude images of the juvenile in Spoerl’s cellular telephone.

Spoerl was subsequently charged with two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse (class 2 felonies) and three counts of child pornography (class 3 felonies). He remains held in the Lake County Jail on $1,000,000.00 bail. He is next due in court this morning in courtroom C-120.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office asks anyone with information about Spoerl, relevant to this investigation, to call the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division at 847-377-4250.

Sheriff Mark Curran said, “Children today are growing up in a digital age, and they are more connected with technology than ever before. It is essential parents monitor all social media applications on your children’s electronic devices. Online predators use these applications to prowl on children.”

Sheriff Curran reminds the public the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.