West Chicago man charged in attempted child abductions in Lisle, Addison

WHEATON, Ill. (WLS) -- Bond was denied Thursday for a West Chicago man accused of attempting to abduct young children on multiple occasions.

Giuseppe Ressa, 34, is charged with three counts of aggravated kidnapping, two counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault, and three counts of child abduction, according to the DuPage County state's attorney.

"The actions of the defendant indicate that he is a pedophile and that he is clearly a danger to children," DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said.

Authorities said they were led to Ressa after an incident last Wednesday at an apartment building play lot in Lisle. Prosecutors said he tried to lure a 5-year-old boy and 7-year-old girl into his vehicle with toys and a game of "hide and seek", but was interrupted by an older sibling.

Based on the description given by the children, police said they were able to work up leads that led them to Ressa. They began surveillance of him, and then on Monday, investigators said they observed him approach three children at an apartment building in Addison.

"He lured two of the children, a boy and a girl, into a vestibule in the apartment building. And while inside the apartment building, he rubbed the girl's thigh," Berlin said.

In court, prosecutors said a search warrant turned up hundreds of pages of notes and stories allegedly written by Ressa that describe violent sexual fantasies involving children. They also said they found handbooks describing how to lure children.

"All of us in law enforcement got in to stop these types of people. That's why we're here. That's why we got into this," said Chief Dave Anderson, Lisle Police Dept.

Prosecutors said Ressa had previously worked at a YMCA in Glen Ellyn and the Woodridge Park District. They also said he worked at a bank and kept notes on the children of bank customers.