A convicted child sex offender who approached children and offered them money outside a Southwest Side Catholic School as classes were getting out Wednesday was charged with several felony offenses, Cook County prosecutors said today.
Karl Trujillo, 39, was spotted by the principal of St. Rene Goupil School loitering on the grounds of the Clearing neighborhood campus about 3:05 p.m., prosecutors said.
The principal confronted Trujillo after seeing him offering children money and saying “bang bang,” said Assistant State’s Attorney Alex Molesky. Trujillo claimed to have a child at the school, but the principal confirmed he did not, according to the prosecutor. An off-duty police officer who was present called 911 and followed Trujillo as he began walking away, Molesky said.
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Trujillo began running away as Chicago police officers arrived, then “stiffened and pulled away from officers, refusing to be arrested” before he was eventually subdued, Molesky said. Trujillo was arrested in the 6800 block of West 64th Street, police said.
A name check revealed Trujillo is a registered sex offender who is restricted by law from being on school property when children are present, Molesky said. He was convicted in 2000 in Will County of aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a child between the ages of 13 and 16, the prosecutor said.
Trujillo is married with two children and has worked as a T-shirt vendor for the past 11 years, his attorney said. He is registered to an address in Summit. Police said he lived in the 7300 block of West Archer Avenue in the suburb.
He was charged with being a sex offender within a school zone, reckless conduct and resisting a police officer.
Judge Donald Panarese, Jr. set bail at $400,000.