Round Lake Park man on sex offender registry ordered held on new charges in McHenry County

A Round Lake Park man already on the Illinois State Police Sex Offender Registry because of a 2018 Lake County conviction was ordered detained in the McHenry County Jail pending trial after a hearing July 5.

Anthony D. Morales, 31, of the 300 block of Bellevue Drive, was charged with felony counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, solicitation, traveling to meet a minor for sex, grooming, soliciting a sex act from a minor and a misdemeanor charge of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

According to the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office, Morales’ new charges in McHenry County are “the exact same crime” as the Lake County charges that put him on the sex offender registry and for which he still is serving probation. That case occurred in Vernon Hills, prosecutors said.

Assistant State’s Attorney Zach Sitkiewicz said investigators have photos of Morales entering the Johnsburg Walmart with his alleged victim. Sitkiewicz said Morales has a history of buying gifts for minors “in exchange for sexual acts” or in exchange for their silence.

“He was at Walmart with the victim,” Sitkiewicz said.

According to the sex offender registry, the 2018 victim was 15 years old at the time of the offense. Further details on those allegations or the new McHenry County charges were not available.

Detaining him until trial prevents Morales from contacting more potential victims, Sitkiewicz said.

Social media “is fundamentally related to this case,” Sitkiewicz said.

Ruling for detention, Judge Michael Zasadil noted that the probationary and sex offender registry conditions set for Morales as part of the 2018 case were not followed, as he now has new charges.