Case of Maywood Man Charged w/Attempting to Meet Up w/Local Girl Going to Feds

The case of a Maywood man charged with going to Teutopolis to meet up with a teenage girl is moving to Federal court.

(FERTO CASTORENA)

29-year-old Antonio Ferto Castorena is charged locally with felony counts of grooming and traveling to meet a minor. His case was to go to trial later this month.

Effingham County State's Attorney Bryan Kibler Thursday said there is some indication the suspect might have been involved in contacts with other girls in other locations, leading to the case becoming a Federal matter.

Local authorities were alerted of the matter by school officials after fellow students of the teenage girl alerted them. Effingham County Sheriff Dave Mahon said at the time of the arrest that the girl was having a clandestine, online relationship with Castorena and they had planned to meet at Teutopolis High School following an early dismissal day. Police were at the school when Castorena arrived and took him into custody.