West Chicago man charged with child abduction, sexual abuse

A West Chicago man whom authorities describe as "obsessed" with kids is accused of attempting to abduct young children on multiple occasions.

Giuseppe Ressa, 34, of the 300 block of Post Oak Circle, has been charged with three counts of aggravated kidnapping, two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse and three counts of child abduction, authorities said Thursday.

Ressa is being held without bail in the DuPage County jail. He has been in police custody since June 1.

"I'm innocent," Ressa told Judge Karen Wilson Thursday afternoon in bond court. "I didn't do anything."

But DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said during a news conference that Ressa's actions show he's "a danger to children."

"That's what we alleged in our motion to hold him without bail, and that's clearly what the judge found in bond court today," Berlin said. "That he poses a real and present threat to the safety of the community."

Prosecutors said Ressa approached a group of children May 27 at a Lisle playground and at one point suggested they play hide-and-seek. He then went with a 7-year-old girl and tried to take her into a building. When she refused, he grabbed her but she resisted.

Ressa then followed the girl back to the playground, where he made physical contact with her as she played on a slide, prosecutors said. He left the scene when the girl's older sibling arrived.

The children's parents immediately reported the case to Lisle police who, through the course of their investigation, identified Ressa as a possible suspect, officials said.

"The Lisle police did some outstanding police work in this case and researched that there were many other incidents matching the defendant's description, as well as the description of the defendant's car," Berlin said.

For example, Ressa was seen talking to a 6-year-old boy March 7 in West Chicago but left when the youngster's mother approached, authorities said.

Prosecutors said Lisle detectives were following Ressa on June 1 when they saw him talking to three children outside an Addison apartment building. Ressa gave the children candy and told them he would give them more if they accompanied him to another building, authorities said.

Two of the children - a 4-year-old boy and a 6-year-old girl - followed him into a vestibule in an apartment building. While talking to the children inside the building, Ressa rubbed the girl's thigh, authorities said.

At that point, detectives entered the building and asked Ressa what he was doing. He gave numerous reasons why he was there but admitted he gave the children candy, according to Berlin.

He has been in custody since.

When police searched his car and home, which he shares with his parents, they said they found children's clothes, toys and numerous writings and drawings. Berlin said many of the writings refer to plans to have sex with children and Ressa's "obsession" with young children.

"It's very disturbing, the defendant's obsession with children," Berlin said.

Authorities said Ressa has had "numerous" prior incidents involving children since 2001, some of which resulted from his employment at a YMCA and at a bank.

"While working at the bank, the defendant would make notes of customers as they came through the bank, specifically notes relating to the customers' children," Berlin said.

Authorities said they believe Ressa may have been working for the Woodridge Park District as recently as last month.

Lisle police Chief Dave Anderson said the case against Ressa is a perfect example of law enforcement agencies working together.

"It was with a big sigh of relief that the judge held him without bond and we were able to get him off the street," Anderson said.