Fla. Man Convicted Of Sex Crimes With Disabled Frankfort Teen
JOLIET, Ill. (STMW) -- A Will County jury took about an hour Friday to convict a Florida man for having sex with a disabled 13-year-old southwest suburban Frankfort girl after he seduced her by cell phone, attorneys said.
Jon J. Filipkowski, 33, faced charges of traveling to meet a minor and several counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse.
His attorney declined to comment after a week-long trial ended with a guilty verdict on every charge.
Jurors heard graphic testimony that began Tuesday when the victim, now 14, took the stand. The girl said she met Filipkowski in an Internet chat room in April 2010 as he posed as a 13-year-old boy. She said he used a different name and sent her a fake photograph. They traded hundreds of messages a day, she said, and she eventually fell in love with him.
The victim sometimes bowed her head on the witness stand as a prosecutor read their increasingly explicit messages aloud. Their relationship continued after he revealed his true identity, even though she said it made her feel sick and violated.
Prosecutors said he eventually drove up from Jensen Beach, Fla., to have sex with the girl in a Mokena hotel in June 2010.
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2010. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
Chuck Pelkie, a spokesman for Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow, said he hopes the verdict helps the family and the victim move forward. He also said crimes like Filipkowski's are a major concern.
"It's a horrific thing, and they get a great deal of attention from our office," Pelkie said.
Filipkowski's sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 10.
