WEBSTER — A quick-thinking juvenile’s alertness and the swift response of local law enforcement led to the arrest of a 59-year-old man on charges of child enticement and assault, authorities said Wednesday.
The incident occurred on Oct. 25, just after 4 p.m., during the annual Main Street Trick or Treat event in Webster, which drew hundreds to the downtown area.
While Lieutenant Gordon Wentworth of the Webster Police Department was assisting with pedestrian crossing near the Town Hall, a 15-year-old boy reported a disturbing encounter that had taken place shortly before in a nearby convenience store parking lot.
The juvenile told Wentworth that an older male, later identified as John Kelley of Dudley, had approached him in his vehicle at Jimmy’s Convenience Store.
The man allegedly waved the boy over, inquired about his sexual orientation, and invited him to “hang out” and meet later that evening.
The boy declined and recorded the conversation and the car’s license plate.
Wentworth relayed the plate number to the South Worcester County Communication Center, which connected the vehicle to Kelley.
The information was shared with both the Webster and Dudley Police Departments, who were on the lookout for Kelley and his car.
Dudley Police Officers Dylan Reney, John Glowacki, and Sergeant Phil Megas found Kelley at his residence on Fourth Avenue.
Webster PD’s Wentworth and Detective Tim Whiting conducted a preliminary interview with Kelley at the scene.
The following morning, Kelley was interviewed at the station after arrangements were made to speak with the juvenile in the presence of a parent.
During the interview, Kelley admitted to initiating the contact with the juvenile, obtaining his phone number, and calling him with the intention of luring the boy into his car for a sexual encounter.
Kelley was arrested and charged with enticement of a child under 16 for sex or violence and assault and battery, the latter stemming from an incident where Kelley allegedly shook the juvenile’s hand and inappropriately rubbed it.
Kelley’s bail was set at $5,000, and he was released pending arraignment on Oct. 28, where his bail was maintained at the same amount.
