SAO: Chicago Man’s Conviction ‘A Step Toward Ending Child Sex Trafficking’
A Chicago man has been convicted for traveling to Aurora and paying for a sexual encounter with a child.
Marek P. Gacierz, 34, of the 3700 block of North Octavia Street, Chicago, was convicted Wednesday (June 22, 2016) by Circuit Judge Donald M. Tegeler, Jr., of involuntary sexual servitude of a minor, a Class X felony, traveling to meet a minor, a Class 3 felony, and grooming, a Class 4 felony.
Gacierz waived his right to a jury trial.
Kane County prosecutors presented evidence that on Jan. 8, 2015, Gacierz traveled from Chicago to an Aurora hotel with the intent to pay to have sex with what he believed would be a 15-year-old girl. When Gacierz arrived at the hotel, he met a person he thought was the girls’ mother, confirmed that he wanted sexual favors, paid the person $150, and was arrested by officers from Homeland Security Investigations and the Aurora Police Department.
Tegeler set Gacierz’s next court appearance for 1:30 p.m. Aug. 26, 2016, in Courtroom 311 at the Kane County Judicial Center for motions and sentencing. Gacierz faces a minimum sentence of six years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.
In addition to the prison term, Gacierz must register for 10 years as a sexual offender in accordance with the Illinois Sexual Offender Registration Act.
Gacierz had been free on $12,500 bond. Bond was revoked upon conviction and Gacierz was taken into custody.
The case was prosecuted by Kane County Assistant State’s Attorney Christine Bayer and Kane County First Assistant State’s Attorney Jody Gleason.
“This conviction is a step toward ending human trafficking, and specifically child sex trafficking. These unconscionable crimes take place across the Chicago suburbs much more often than the general public could possibly know. Law enforcement nationwide, at all levels, is committed to ending the exploitation of children,” Kane County State’s Attorney Joe McMahon said.
SOURCE: Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office news release. To follow news releases directly from the SAO, visit the State’s Attorney’s website and Facebook page.
