(WHEATON) When young girls became uncomfortable with a man watching their swimming practice at a private west suburban club, he was asked to leave, and when he returned and watched a swim meet hours later, he was arrested.
Now Damien Dickens, 36, is being held in the DuPage County Jail on a $300,000 bond, charged with one felony count of criminal trespass to a place of public amusement, and one misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct, according to the DuPage County state’s attorney’s office.
At some time Tuesday, Dickens entered the members-only Oaks Recreation Club at 300 S. Oakhurst Dr. in Aurora, but “was asked to leave the club when minor female members became uncomfortable with his presence,” a statement from prosecutors said.
Later that day, Dickens again entered the club through the men’s locker room and went to a vestibule area “where he was able to watch children participating in a swim meet,” prosecutors said.
He watched the kids swimming for about 45 minutes, the “left the premises when questioned about his presence there,” according to prosecutors.
Club officials contacted Aurora police, who arrested Dickens without incident on Wednesday in Montgomery.
“The allegations against Mr. Dickens are very disturbing,” state’s attorney Robert Berlin said in the statement. “If these allegations are proven true, regardless of his intentions, Mr. Dickens had no right to be present at a members-only club. I would like to thank authorities at the Oaks Recreation Club for reporting this matter to the police and for their assistance throughout the investigation.”
Dickens, of Windrift Drive in Aurora, will next appear in court July 27, and faces up to six years in prison if convicted, prosecutors said.
