FREEPORT — A Freeport man has been arrested and charged in connection with his alleged attempts to meet with an underage female, officials said. 

As a result of an investigation, Charles G. Delong of Freeport has been charged with traveling to meet a child, unlawful grooming, and sexual exploitation of a child, according to a statement from the Stephenson County Sheriff’s Office. 

Police said they first became aware of Delong in late April, after first being contacted by an organization known as the World Wide Predator Hunters, which seeks to reveal child predators nationwide trying to lure kids online. 

“We were given information on a possible child predator living in Freeport Illinois that this group had been communicating with on the Internet,” Sheriff David Snyders said, in a statement. “During the investigation a Sheriff’s Office Deputy took over the communication with the suspect, taking on the role of a 14-year-old female.”

A meeting was established between the suspect and what he thought was a 14-year-old girl at the city’s Krape Park. “The suspect then drove from his workplace north of Freeport to Krape Park in Freeport for the meeting,” police said, adding that Delong was subsequently taken into custody at the park without incident.

Delong remains in Stephenson County Jail on a $150,000 bond.

Founded in 2020, World Wide Predator Hunters is based in Edgerton and has helped initiate dozens of investigations and arrests.