Belvidere Police Department arrests Texas man

BELVIDERE – On Wednesday, Oct. 21 the Belvidere Police Department arrested a Texas man for predatory criminal sexual assault of a child.

On July 9, Belvidere Police Patrol Officers received a report of a subject contacting a 10-year-old over the internet.

Over the next three months Belvidere Police Detectives conducted an investigation which revealed a Texas resident allegedly solicited sexual acts from two juveniles over the internet.

On Wednesday, Oct. 21, Belvidere Police Detectives, Department of Homeland Security, and Pasadena Police Department executed a search warrant at a Pasadena, Texas residence. Investigators located hard drives, tablets, cell phones, and computers.

The Boone County State’s Attorney’s Office authorized two counts of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child (Class X Felony) and two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor (Class Four Felony) for Seth A. Dryer, 35, of Pasadena Texas. Dryer was arrested and transported to the Houston Adult Correctional Facility where he remains in custody pending extradition to Boone County, Ill.

The investigation continues and additional charges are possible.

A Class X Felony is punishable by six to 30 years in the department of corrections. A Class Four Felony is punishable by one to three years in the department of corrections.

The Belvidere Police Department encourages anyone having information of a crime or narcotic trafficking to call the Belvidere Police Department at (815) 544-2135 or Crime Stoppers at

(815) 547-7867.

Members of the public are reminded that these are only charges and are not proof of the defendant’s guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the State’s burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.