On Saturady, an Oak Lawn man is behind bars after he allegedly tried to engage in sexual activities with a minor, officials said. Francisco Nanez, 59, was caught in a sting operation when he showed up for a rendezvous with what he thought was a young victim. In a press release, Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart detailed the arrest, which involved Sheriff’s Police investigators from the Internet Crimes Against Children Unit posing as a minor.
Authorities were tipped off in April about the explicit messages being sent to the minor on a social media app. Nanez, of the 9300 block of South 54th Court, believed he was conversing with the child, when in fact it was undercover officers. In the texts, Nanez did not hold back, sending sexually explicit messages and asking for nude photos. His plan to meet the supposed minor for sex was thwarted on May 1st when he was met by law enforcement instead of the child he expected.
According to the Cook County Sheriff's Office, a search of Nanez’s possessions revealed his cell phone, which contained his messages with the victim and non-explicit photos of the child, and suspect narcotics. The phone is undergoing forensic analysis to recover further evidence.
The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office slapped Nanez with a slew of charges, including one count each of Child Pornography/Solicitation of a Child Under the Age of 13 and Attempt/Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault of a Child Under the Age of 13 - both severe felonies. Further, he faces charges for Indecent Solicitation of a Child, Traveling to Meet a Child, Grooming, and Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance. After his initial court appearance on Thursday, Nanez was ordered to be held in Cook County Jail, with his next court date scheduled for May 30.
While the charges paint a damning picture, it is important to remember the judicial principle that ensures Nanez is innocent until proven guilty. His legal proceedings are ongoing, and public discourse should refrain from passing final judgment until the court has rendered its verdict.
