A Chicago man has been detained after prosecutors said he stood naked outside a South Chicago home on the Fourth of July, masturbating and trying to lure an 11-year-old girl to come outside.

Prosecutors said Byron Ballard was completely naked and touching himself when he got the girl’s attention around 11:20 p.m. in the 8800 block of South Escanaba Avenue. Ballard allegedly made repeated attempts to persuade the child to come outside, at one point knocking on the front door and telling her that he knew she “wanted him,” according to prosecutors.

The incident was witnessed by multiple people and partially recorded on video, prosecutors told Judge James Murphy II during Ballard’s detention hearing. Police later identified Ballard as the man seen in the footage and recently arrested him to face charges.

Byron Ballard (Chicago Police Department)

Judge Murphy ordered Ballard detained, citing public safety concerns and his criminal history. Ballard faces two counts of sexual exploitation of a child.

“This is escalating criminal behavior,” Murphy said, noting that Ballard has been arrested “multiple times for battery within the past 18 months.”

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