MENDOTA – Tyler D. Gulley 21, of Mendota, was charged with aggravated criminal sexual abuse on Jan. 5.

On Nov. 23, 2017, the Mendota Police Department’s Investigation Division was informed of an allegation of sexual abuse involving a juvenile female as the potential victim. A Mendota Police Department detective met with members of its multidiscipline team, which consists of members from the LaSalle County Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC), the Illinois Department of Children & Family Services (DCFS) and the LaSalle County State’s Attorney’s Office.

The CAC conducted a forensic interview with the juvenile. During the interview, the victim disclosed the suspect had allegedly committed an act of sexual abuse to her. In order to protect the identity of the victim, the Mendota Police Department will not comment on how and where the suspect and the victim came to be in contact.

The investigation revealed the identity of the suspect to be Gulley. An interview of Gulley was conducted and he eventually confessed to the allegations. Upon conferring with the LaSalle County State’s Attorney’s Office, a felony charge of aggravated criminal sexual abuse was approved, due to the victim being under 13 years of age.

Gulley was located on Jan. 5 and taken into custody without incident. At the time of his arrest, he was being held in the LaSalle County Jail on a $25,000 bond.