Palos Heights Man Stalked Stagg High Girl on the Web, Cops Say

A Palos Heights man who sent a series of suggestive messages to a 16-year-old female Stagg High School student has been arrested and charged with harassment through electronic media communications and disorderly conduct, police said.

On Monday, a judge issued an order of protection against William Kearns, 55. Kearns, of the 13400 block of Edinburgh Drive, was arrested on Aug. 30.

In early July, Kearns began sending messages of "an alarming, disturbing or suggestive tenor" to the victim through the social networking site Formspring.me, police said.

In those messages, Kearns implied he was a fellow student at the school and made observations that placed him at various musical events the girl attended, police said.

Both the victim and Kearns' son were involved in Stagg's music program, police said.

After a series of exchanges on the web, Kearns set up a meeting with the victim at the Plush Horse ice cream shop in Palos Park on Aug. 27. The victim brought a companion who recognized Kearns, police said.

The victim alerted her parents, who then went to the Palos Park police.

Kearns has pleaded not guilty and is free on bond. He appeared in court on Monday, where the judge ordered him to avoid the victim and Stagg High School, police said. 

Carla Erdey, communications director for District 230, declined to comment on the specific case. However, District  230 does emphasize the importance of using social media in a safe way.

"District 230 does have a long standing tradition of teaching students to stay safe online," Erdey said.

The district also emphasizes safety precautions on social networking sites with parents during curriculum nights, Erdey said.

Palos Park Police Chief Joe Miller recalled an incident last year when an older man used a social networking site to contact a minor.

"The commonality in a lot of these cases is that the adults can portray themselves as someone of the same age," Miller said.

Kearns is scheduled to return to court on Oct. 18 regarding the order of protection and on Oct. 19 regarding the criminal charges. Both appearances will be at the county courthouse at 2650 S. California Ave., Chicago.