Former Elwood president arrested on traveling to meet a child charge

A former Elwood village president surrendered to the Joliet police on a Grundy County charge of traveling to meet a child.

About 4:16 p.m. Thursday, Todd Matichak, 52, of the 300 block of West Corning Avenue in Peotone turned himself in on an arrest warrant from Grundy County, according to a Joliet police news release.

Matichak went to the Joliet Police Department’s west substation at 7196 Caton Farm Road to surrender, police said.

Matichak was released after posting a $2,000 cash bond, police said.

Grundy County Sheriff Detective Sgt. Rick Onsen said the investigation of Matichak began with a report of a sexual exploitation of a child. He said a citizen had posted information on Facebook regarding a person attempting to exploit a child.

The incident took place in Diamond and Matichak was identified as the offender, Onsen said.

Matichak was indicted on a charge that alleged he knowingly traveled within Illinois on June 19 for the purpose of engaging in the offense of aggravated criminal sexual abuse with another person he believed was a child.

The charge alleged Matichak used the smartphone app Kik Messenger to “entice another person believed by the defendant to be a child.”

Matichak had been the president of Elwood for just nine months before he announced his resignation in December 2017.

Matichak said he stepped down for personal reasons, according to an Elwood village news release.

“It has been my great privilege and honor to serve the residents of the village of Elwood as their (village president),” Matichak said in a statement. “I am grateful for having worked with public officials and staff who are committed to doing what is best for the village.”

Matichak was elected to the office in April 2017.

After Matichak’s resignation, Village Trustee Doug Jenco was named as his replacement. Jenco was sworn in at a village board meeting in January 2018.