A deeply personal story and a bold legislative mission took center stage Tuesday morning on Chicago’s Morning Answer as Michelle Peterson, a self-described “mama bear before it was cool,” joined Amy Jacobson and Chris Krok to discuss her years-long fight to strengthen Illinois’ grooming laws after her teenage son was targeted by a teacher.
Peterson’s son was just 15 when he was groomed by a 34-year-old teacher and baseball coach at Morris High School. The grooming began with thousands of text messages — some graphic and highly inappropriate — and escalated into offers of money for sexual acts and requests for illicit video recordings. While the teacher was ultimately convicted under Illinois’ newly passed grooming law in 2013, the consequences were shockingly light: 30 days in jail, a $2,700 fine, and 10 years on the sex offender registry — a term that ended last May.
Now, Peterson is fighting to make sure no other child endures what her son did — and to ensure that predators face real consequences.
“People need to understand that they don’t have to physically touch these kids to leave lasting damage,” Peterson said. “Grooming is powerful, and we need stronger laws to stop it.”
The Only Grooming Conviction in the U.S.
Peterson’s case is believed to be the first and only conviction for unlawful grooming in the United States at the time — not because other cases didn’t exist, but because no other states had a grooming statute on the books. Now, Peterson is advocating for change not only in Illinois, but nationwide.
Her advocacy has already contributed to new grooming laws being introduced or passed in Florida, Iowa, Arizona, and Georgia. But in Illinois, where it all began, her efforts to amend the existing law have stalled in committee.
What Peterson Wants Changed
Peterson is backing House Bill 1140 and Senate Bill 282, championed by State Rep. Jed Davis and Senator Sue Rezin, respectively. The legislation includes the following reforms:
- Lifetime placement on the sex offender registry for grooming offenders (currently capped at 10 years)
- Expansion of restricted zones to include private businesses and entertainment venues that cater to children (e.g., Chuck E. Cheese, mall play areas, etc.)
- Elimination of plea deals in grooming cases to prevent offenders from avoiding charges or registry requirements
- Greater classification of the offense, including a recent upgrade from a Class 4 to a Class 3 felony
“Right now, a convicted groomer can hang out at your local Dave & Buster’s or mall play area,” Peterson said. “