A man in Chicago is in custody following allegations that he was found completely undressed outside a residence in South Chicago on Independence Day, where he reportedly exposed himself and attempted to coax an 11-year-old girl to join him outside.
According to prosecutors, Byron Ballard was fully nude and engaging in lewd acts when he caught the attention of the girl around 11:20 p.m. in the 8800 block of South Escanaba Avenue. It is alleged that Ballard made several attempts to convince the child to exit the house, including knocking on the door and suggesting that he knew she “wanted him,” as stated by officials in court.
The event was observed by multiple witnesses and partially captured on video. During a detention hearing before Judge James Murphy II, prosecutors shared this information. Following the incident, law enforcement was able to identify Ballard from the footage and arrested him to face prosecution.
In court, Judge Murphy decided to keep Ballard in custody, referencing concerns for public safety along with his prior criminal record. He is charged with two counts of child sexual exploitation.
Judge Murphy remarked, “This represents an escalation in criminal activity,” highlighting that Ballard has faced multiple arrests for battery in the last year and a half.
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