Wheeling man charged with luring, sexually abusing girl

A Wheeling man has been accused of luring two girls to an Elgin hotel and sexually abusing one of them.

Anthony C. Ramirez, 26, of the 200 block of West Wayne Place, is charged with aggravated kidnapping — victim under 13 years old; kidnapping; aggravated criminal sexual abuse — victim under 13 years old; traveling to meet a minor; indecent solicitation of a child through the internet; grooming; and contributing to the delinquency of a minor, all felonies. He also is charged with misdemeanor child endangerment.

According to a press release from the Kane County state’s attorney’s office, Elgin police responded at 4:19 a.m. on May 30 to a hotel on the 500 block of Airport Road to investigate why two girls were in the lobby.

The girls told police they came to Elgin to meet an unknown man to attend a gathering, according to the release. Two adult men met them when they arrived, but one left shortly thereafter.

Authorities say Ramirez arranged for the girls’ transportation and had “inappropriate contact” with one of them.

A judge has ordered Ramirez to be detained pretrial. His next court date is Wednesday.

Elgin police ask that anyone with information about this incident or similar incidents involving Ramirez call Detective Nick Kozicki at (847) 289-2635 or email him at nick.kozicki@elginil.gov.