Retired sheriff’s sergeant charged with sexual abuse, child porn involving girls 14 and 15 years old
07/23/2020 3:04 pm PDT
UPDATE Aug. 28, 2020:
The Chicago Tribune reports a judge denied a request on Friday to revoke bond for John Pradun, but gave him a warning.
Pradun, a 62-year-old retired Cook County sheriff's office sergeant, appeared at the Rolling Meadows courthouse Friday for an emergency bond hearing after prosecutors asked that he be taken into custody. They allege he recently violated the conditions of his bond by allowing a teenage resident of his home to invite a 15-year-old friend into the house, the Tribune reports.
Wilmette Police received a report that a 15-year-old girl was visiting Pradun's family member at their home on the evening of Aug. 24, in violation of a condition of his bond that prohibits him from having contact with minors. A police report says that Pradun did not interact with the 15-year-old girl, but he saw her enter and leave the home.
July 23, 2020:
WILMETTE, Ill. (WGN) -- A retired Cook County sheriff's sergeant is charged with sexual abuse, possession of child pornography and other crimes involving children.
Wilmette Police saidafter investigators received a tip about possible sexual abuse involving a minor, detectives arrested John Pradun, 62, at his home on the morning of July 17 for sexual abuse of a minor.
Police said detectives obtained evidence that Pradun had committed sex offenses against two minors in the last month, showed a nude digital photograph of himself to a minor, and had supplied alcohol and drugs to minors.
Police executed search warrants and said they recovered Xanax and Alprazolam, as well as evidence of child pornography on anelectronic storage device belonging to Pradun.
Pradun was charged with two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse; one count of indecent solicitation of a child; one count of grooming; one count of harmful material; one count of possession of child pornography; and one count of possession of controlled substance.
WGN reports the alleged sex offenses were committed against two girls ages 14 and 15.
The Chicago Tribune reports that according to court records, prosecutors allege the female victims went to Pradun's home frequently for parties there with other girls, where he would allegedly offer the girls alcohol, marijuana, cigarettes and Xanax.
The girls who attended the parties were aware that he was a retired law enforcement officer and they referred to him by the nickname “Po-Po,” according to prosecutors.
Pradun retired in November 2019 as a sergeant for the Cook County Sheriff's Office, where he had served since June 1993, according to a spokesperson.
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