Bail was set Monday at $50,000 for a Bartlett man accused of allegedly trying to solicit an undercover officer posing as a 15-year-old girl.
Bradley Johnson, 29, appeared in Bridgeview bond court, charged with possession of child pornography, indecent solicitation of a minor and traveling to meet a minor, according to court records.
The investigation was conducted by the Evergreen Park police department.
Johnson sent photos to and asked for sex from the undercover officer posing as a minor through an anonymous social media app called Whipser, prosecutors said.
The online exchange and text messages between Johnson and the undercover officer started Nov. 16 and concluded on Saturday, when Johnson allegedly tried to meet the person he believed to be a teenage girl at a McDonald’s in the Mount Greenwood neighborhood, prosecutors said.
During the online exchange, Johnson allegedly identified himself as “Brad” and said he was 29 years old, prosecutors said.
Officers arrested Johnson in the McDonald’s parking lot, prosecutors said. He allegedly acknowledge planning to meet with the person he believed to be a 15-year-old girl.
If he bonds out, Johnson is forbidden from having contact with anyone under the age of 18 and is to not use the internet or a cell phone, prosecutors said.
Johnson is scheduled to return to court Dec. 21.
Nick Swedberg is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
