GLEN CARBON – The Riverbend region’s latest child solicitation sting has yielded felony charges against a Glen Carbon man now in Madison County custody.
Michael W. Beland, 55, of Glen Carbon, was charged on July 28, 2026, with one count each of indecent solicitation of a minor, traveling to meet a minor (both Class 3 felonies), solicitation to meet a child, and grooming (both Class 4 felonies).
The day prior, on July 27, 2026, Beland allegedly knowingly solicited an individual he believed to be a 15-year-old child with the intent of committing an act of criminal sexual abuse. He is also accused of traveling to meet the believed child at the corner of Cougar Drive and Northbay Court in Glen Carbon after knowingly using an electronic device or online service to arrange to meet the minor at that location to engage in a sexual act.
The Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to deny Beland’s pretrial release from custody in this case. According to the petition, Glen Carbon Police officers responded to Northbay Court after receiving a report of an individual attempting to meet with someone they believed was a 15-year-old child to commit a sex act against the child. Officers took Beland into custody, obtained a search warrant for his phone, and made contact with an adult who had been communicating with Beland while posing as the 15-year-old child.
The adult provided messages to police in which they “clearly stated” to Beland they were underage, after which Beland reportedly responded that he wanted to engage in various sex acts with the child and arranged to meet with the believed minor.
Beland currently remains in custody at the Madison County Jail pending trial in the case presented by the Glen Carbon Police Department.
All individuals charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
