Four charged after answering boy’s Craigslist sex ad

Evanston police say four men have been arrested on charges of having sex with a 14-year-old boy who placed an ad on Craigslist offering to engage in sex acts.

Police Cmdr. Jay Parrott says the investigation began last August when officers became aware of the ad.

With cooperation from the victim’s parents police were able to recover email messages, computer records and cell phone billing information that Parrott says linked the men to the teenager.

The arrests took place over the past four months.

The most recent arrest occurred Friday when Glenn A. Lapidus, 46, of 2037 N. Bissell Ave. in Chicago, was charged with aggravated criminal sexual abuse and four other sex-related felonies.

On March 3 Alejandro Costilla, 43, of 5803 N. Campbell Ave. in Chicago, was charged with aggravated criminal sexual abuse and patronizing a minor engaged in prostitution.

On Feb. 25 Vaselin K. Minev, 43, of 6236 Lincoln Ave. in Morton Grove, was charged with aggravated criminal sexual abuse and four other sex-related felonies.

And on Jan. 24 Jonathan Labe, 54, pf 908 Reba Place in Evanston was charged with aggravated criminal sexual abuse and three other felonies and several misdemeanor offenses.

The men have been released on bond and are awaiting trial in Skokie district court.