CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) — Authorities have charged a Champaign County man with kidnapping and sexual abuse after he allegedly took a 12-year-old family member from school under the pretense of a doctor’s visit, but instead drove them to a rural location.
The Champaign County Sheriff’s Office reported that on Thursday at 1:15 p.m., Esteban Jesus-Sebastian collected the child from school and transported them to an area near Mahomet.
This made the child uneasy, according to the sheriff’s office. They requested to go home. After Jesus-Sebastian declined, the child asked to leave the car. Despite his refusal, the child attempted to escape when the car stopped and claimed Jesus-Sebastian touched them inappropriately.
Fortunately, the child managed to flee the car and hid in a cornfield. The sheriff’s office noted Jesus-Sebastian drove along the road, shouting for the child.
The child began running to homes in the area for help. Police arrived after the child alerted the neighbors.
Upon police contact, Jesus-Sebastian claimed to be driving alone and mentioned stopping for corn on his route to work. However, officers found two open beer cans in his vehicle, detected an alcohol odor, and noted signs of impairment during sobriety tests.
Jesus-Sebastian is now facing charges of aggravated kidnapping, aggravated sexual abuse and driving under the influence of alcohol.
