Deerfield man accused of soliciting teen at Elmhurst gas station

A 70-year-old suburban man appeared in a DuPage County courtroom Monday facing allegations he solicited a teenage girl for sexual favors Saturday at an Elmhurst gas station.

Janeiro Green of Deerfield is charged with solicitation of a sexual act of a minor, a Class 4 felony, stemming from the accusations, DuPage County prosecutors said.

According to prosecutors, Elmhurst police officers responded to a call at 10:40 a.m. Saturday about an unwelcome man near a gas station in the 600 block of West North Avenue.

Officers learned that a 17-year-old girl was at the station pumping gas when a man later identified as Green made advances toward her using vulgar language, prosecutors said.

The man told the teen he could pay her and gave her his name, phone number and email address, authorities allege.

While speaking with the girl, officers observed commotion from a store across the street involving Green. After speaking with him, the officers placed Green under arrest, officials said.

Green appeared in court Monday morning, then was released because the charge he faces is not detainable under the state’s SAFE-T Act, prosecutors said.

“Cases such as this illustrate the need for the General Assembly to strengthen the (SAFE-T) Act by giving judges more discretion when determining if a defendant is a danger or threat to society,” DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin said in a statement.

Green’s next court appearance is scheduled for Sept. 28. He faces a maximum of one to three years in prison if convicted of the Class 4 felony, though probation would be possible.