Schaumburg man charged with soliciting child

Authorities have charged a 77-year-old Schaumburg man with indecent solicitation of a child after he was accused of approaching a 9-year-old girl in a park Sunday afternoon.

Bail was set at $50,000 Monday for Paul R. Duke, whose last known address is on the 2200 block of Pennview Lane in Schaumburg.

Schaumburg officers responded to a call at 2:46 p.m. Sunday of a suspicious person approaching children in the park at Knollwood Drive and Pennview Lane, police said. Duke was located and detained while the officers interviewed witnesses.

An investigation determined that Duke had approached a girl in the park and offered her money to allow him to commit a sex act with her, according to police. The girl ran to an adult family friend who had accompanied her to the park and reported what happened.

The victim was not physically touched or harmed during the encounter, police said.

Schaumburg police are reminding parents to speak with their children routinely about dealing with strangers.

Duke is scheduled to return to court Oct. 25 on the felony charge.