Sycamore resident charged with abuse

By Libby John

A Sycamore man was charged Tuesday for aggravated criminal sexual abuse.

Charles Rowe, 52, is being charged for allegedly taking nude photos of a minor.

“He is also the legal guardian of the female,” DeKalb County Sheriff Roger Scott said.

Sycamore police first heard of the case when the minor tried to sell the photos to photographers in Elgin, Scott said. Those photographers contacted Sycamore police in early November.

Detectives from both the Sycamore Police Department and the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office posed as photographers and met with Rowe and the underage victim.

During that meeting, Rowe produced nude pictures of the individual. Both were taken into custody, according to the DeKalb County Sheriff’s press release.

Rowe also confessed to having a sexual relationship with the underage female, police said.

The underage victim was taken to DeKalb County Family Services, while Rowe is being held in jail with bond set at $50,000.

Scott said the female participated in the photos because she wanted to be a model.

The charge is considered a felony and can get Rowe six to 15 years in prison.

Scott said he was unaware of any other instance where Rowe committed this kind of crime, and does not know whether a court date has been set.