PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) -- A Central Peoria man was arrested Wednesday for allegedly engaging in an online chat with a child and planning to meet for sexual purposes.

Officers with the Peoria Police Department began their investigation on May 1 and reviewed more than 60 pages of messages between James L. Parker, 56, and the juvenile victim.

Parker was taken into custody in the 1200 block of West McClure Avenue mid-afternoon Wednesday. He was booked into the Peoria County Jail on charges of grooming and indecent solicitation of a child.

A search warrant was executed at Parker’s residence, where several items were seized. According to the Peoria police department, Parker is a subject of interest in similar out-of-state investigations involving minors.

He has yet to be formally charged in cou

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