Police: Man tried to meet Wheeling teen for sex

A 24-year-old Schiller Park man was arrested after police say he tried to meet up with a 14-year-old Wheeling girl to have sex.

Authorities charged Jeffery A. Vanderhayden with one count of grooming and one count of traveling to meet a minor — both felonies.

Police said Vanderhayden sent text messages to the 14-year-old girl on Thursday, asking how old she was and if she wanted to meet with him alone. The victim and her mother went to the police station, while the text messages continued, and Vanderhayden “indicated that he wanted to engage in specific sexual acts with the victim,” according to a news release.

Vanderhayden arrived at an agreed upon meeting location on the 500 block of North McHenry Road, where he was taken into custody. He “provided statements indicating he knew the victim was 14 years of age, and that his sole reason for contacting the victim was to have sexual relations with her,” the statement said.

Bond was set on Friday at $75,000. Vanderhayden is due in court again Nov. 8.