Belleville man faces sexual assault, porn charges. There may be other victims, police say
A 74-year old Belleville man was charged with sexually assaulting a male juvenile and keeping a stash of child pornography.
Michael G. Munie, 74, was charged Wednesday by St. Clair County State’s Attorney Jim Gomric’s office with criminal sexual assault, a class 1 felony, child pornography, a class 1 felony, aggravated criminal sexual abuse, a class 2 felony, child pornography and three counts of grooming.
He was arrested Tuesday at his home in the 600 block of N. 39th Street and was being held at the Belleville Police Department Thursday, pending transfer to the St. Clair County Jail.
According to the criminal complaint, between July 8 and September 10, Munie knowingly committed an act of sexual penetration with a 15-year-old boy who was identified in the criminal complaint only by his initials.
On the charge of child pornography, it’s alleged that Munie took nude pictures of the boy which he showed in “lewd exhibition.”
Munie was charged with criminal sexual abuse and grooming because he plied the victim with gifts.
Munie also had a photography file of an under-aged male child, who was depicted either nude or in various states of dress, charges state.
Law enforcement was alerted to Munie after the 15-year old juvenile victims’ mother called the Belleville Police Department.
“The mother told officers her child, a 15-year old male was spending time at a residence in the 600 block of N. 39th Street, in Belleville,” Mark Heffernan, assistant chief of police said.
Heffernan said the suspect was referred to as the juveniles’ godfather. The boy had spent time at Munie’s residence before, he said.
“When the juvenile’s mother went to the suspects’ home to retrieve her son, another family member observed the juvenile male and the juvenile’s godfather engaged in a lewd act,” Heffernan said.
The mother took her son to a local hospital for medical treatment. Police have not released the mother’s name. The Belleville News-Democrat does not publish information that could lead to the identity of a minor or victim of sexual assault.
Munie was arrested at his home without incident and taken to the Belleville Police Department, Heffernan said.
Heffernan said multiple search warrants and interviews have been conducted over the course of the investigation and police believe there are additional victims.
The investigation is still in the very early stages. Additional charges may be considered, he said.
If you suspect that a child has been harmed or is at risk of being harmed by abuse or neglect, report it online at https://childabuse.illinois.gov. In an emergency, call the 24-hour Child Abuse Hotline at 800-25-ABUSE (800-252-2873). If you believe a child is in immediate danger of harm, call 911 first.