McHenry County man charged with soliciting a minor

Crystal Lake police this week arrested a Lakewood man accused of soliciting sexual conduct with a minor, officials said Thursday.

Tyler J. Whitfield, 24, was arrested on Monday and charged with a misdemeanor count of sexual exploitation of a child and a felony count of grooming, according to Crystal Lake police news release.

"Whitfield reportedly came into contact with a Crystal Lake minor through Facebook and other social media venues in June 2014 and had been communicating with the minor since," the release said. "Dialogue developed to that of a sexual nature, which despite efforts by the minor to quash, advanced to Whitfield transmitting nude images depicting him engaged in sexual acts."

The incident came to the attention of a school resource officer who started an investigation.

Whitfield was arrested at his home on Monday, and his smartphone and computer were seized. Bail was set at $10,000, police said.

Whitfield's next court date is scheduled for 9 a.m. Dec. 2.