Man accused of traveling to Springfield from California for sex with child

Bradley Zimmerman
·1 min read
4

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — A man from California is under arrest in Sangamon County after law enforcement officials said he traveled from his home state to Springfield to meet a minor for sexual acts.

Officials with the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office said the investigation began in September of 2022, when they were notified an adult male was communicating online with a Sangamon County child. The adult distributed nude images of the child on social media, officials added, and it was reported that he had traveled from California to meet the child.

Detectives identified the suspect as Matthew Rodriguez, 24 of Sylmar, Calif. After completing an extensive investigation, officials said the case was transferred to Homeland Security Investigations, as it is a federal offense to cross state lines to meet a minor.

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Rodriguez was arrested in Springfield on April 3, officials said. He was detained on and charged with the following crimes: transportation of minors, enticement of a minor and transfer of obscene material to a minor.

In addition to announcing the arrest, the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office thanked the Sangamon County Child Advocacy Center, Homeland Security Investigations and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Central District of Illinois for their assistance in the investigation.

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