BELLEVILLE, Ill. — A Belleville man was charged with multiple felonies after being caught sexually abusing a teen that he knew, police said.
According to the Belleville Police Department, the teen's mother told police on Sept. 10 that her child was spending time at the home of the man in the 600 block of North 39th Street, as he had done before, when another family member caught the man abusing the child.
The mother took her son to an area hospital for medical treatment, and police arrived at the home and arrested the man, 74-year-old Michael G. Munie.
Police said the St. Clair County State's Attorney's Office issued the following charges against Munie:
- Criminal sexual assault, a Class 1 felony.
- Child pornography, a Class 1 felony.
- Aggravated criminal sexual assault, a Class 2 felony.
- Three counts of child pornography, a Class 3 felony.
- Grooming, a Class 4 felony.
Additional charges may be considered as the investigation continues, police said. The Illinois Attorney General's Office was assisting the investigation.
Multiple search warrants and interviews have led Belleville investigators to believe there may be additional victims in the case. Police urged anyone who allowed Munie to have unsupervised contact with their child to speak with their child about him.
If you suspect Munie had inappropriate contact with your child, contact the Belleville Police Department at 618-234-1212.
Resources for crime victims
If you have been a victim of a crime or know someone who has been, 5 On Your Side has compiled a list of resources.
The Crime Victim Center of St. Louis has multiple programs to support victims of crime. Crime Victim Center’s programs range from direct services to crime victims as well as “creating awareness and change within the systems they encounter.”
Life Outside of Violence "helps those harmed by stabbing, gunshot or assault receive the treatment, support and resources they need to find alternatives to end the cycle of violence."
The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis has the Neighborhood Healing Network, which serves people who have experienced crime, violence or been the victim of an incident that caused trauma.
The Bullet Related Injury Clinic (BRIC) is a community-based clinic in St. Louis that helps people heal after they have been injured by a bullet. The BRIC was established to help people who are discharged from the emergency department after being shot.
