Round Lake man charged with sexually abusing girl

ROUND LAKE, Ill. (WLS) -- A man from unincorporated Round Lake has been charged with sexually abusing a juvenile, the Lake County Sheriff's Office said Friday.

Police said Steve Spoerl, 53, used the social media app "Whisper" in order to arrange a meeting with a juvenile. Spoerl picked up the girl and drove her to a hotel in Waukegan where he engaged in sexual conduct with her, police said.

Nude images of the girl were found on Spoerl's cell phone, police said.

Spoerl was charged with two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse and three counts of child pornography. He is being held at Lake County Jail on $1,000,000 bail.

"Children today are growing up in a digital age, and they are more connected with technology than ever before. It is essential parents monitor all social media applications on your children's electronic devices. Online predators use these applications to prowl on children," Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran said in press release.

Anyone with information on the case is asked to contact the Lake County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigations Division at 847-377-4250.