Vernon Hills man charged in child sexual exploitation case

A 24-year-old Vernon Hills man is free on bond on a charge of sexual exploitation of a child involving a case initiated last spring in Missouri, police said.

Vernon Hills police announced Tuesday that John W. Schraffenberger, of the 0-100 block of Echo Court in the New Centurytown neighborhood, was arrested and charged Oct. 16.

Police said they were notified in April by police in Missouri that a 12-year-old girl had received a lewd photo on her cellphone via the Kik messenger application. Missouri police determined the sender was a Vernon Hills man and local police began an investigation with help from the Lake County Sheriff's Office cybercrime section.

An investigator posing as a 13-year-old female corresponded regularly with Schraffenberger via text message, police said, and arrest and search warrants were obtained.

"We seized several computers that were sent for analysis," said Kim Christenson, spokesman for Vernon Hills police. "At this point, we don't anticipate additional charges as a result of the analysis."

On Oct. 16, Schraffenberger was arrested at work and charged with sexual exploitation of a child, a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in prison and a $2,500 fine. He was released after posting 10 percent of the bond with a court date of Nov. 20.

"We're reminding parents to remind their children to tell them if anything inappropriate is received and not to disclose personal information in texting or online," Christenson said.

Vernon Hills police ask that anyone who thinks they have had inappropriate communication with Schraffenberger to call the investigations section at (847) 362-4449.