Charges: Swansea man raped and videotaped bound, naked 10-year-old girl

It was a Facebook message Gary M.J. Grodin sent to a friend about being in love with a 10-year-old girl that launched a police investigation.

While Grodin cast it as a romantic relationship between himself and the elementary school student, police said it was systematic, brutal sexual assault over the course of months, including binding the girl’s hands together and having sex with her while videotaping it on his cellphone.

“The charging documents spell out how dangerous this suspect is, including the suspect binding the 10-year-old’s hands together with zip-ties while forcing sexual acts,” said Swansea Police Chief Steve Johnson. “The suspect captured on video these heinous crimes.”

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St. Clair County State’s Attorney Brendan Kelly on Wednesday charged Grodin with 31 felonies: 15 counts of predatory criminal sexual assault and 18 counts of child pornography. He remained at large as of Wednesday afternoon. His bail was set at $1 million.

Swansea police on Wednesday were searching for Grodin, who authorities said is homeless and could be headed to the Tulsa, Okla., area. But they emphasized that Grodin could still be in the area. The U.S. Marshals Service was assisting Swansea police in the search for Grodin.

Grodin, 32, told the friend he was living with the girl’s mother, Grodin’s ex-girlfriend, but he was really in love with her daughter, according to an affidavit filed Tuesday in St. Clair County. Grodin went on to tell his friend about the size of the girl’s breasts and buttocks.

During an interview watched by police and prosecutors, the girl told police that Grodin would make her get undressed, touch her, then use zip-ties to restrain her arms so she couldn’t cover herself and take pictures, according to an application for a search warrant filed by Swansea Police Detective Peter Wszalek on Tuesday.

During an examination of Grodin’s cellphone, police found numerous video clips and photos showing the girl engaged in sexual activities with a man police say is Grodin, according to reports filed by Wszalek on Wednesday.

As of Wednesday, the child was with her mother and receiving counseling, Johnson said.

“It is not believed the mother of the victim knew of these criminal acts. The mother is distraught and is working with law enforcement,” Johnson said.

Authorities said there could be other potential victims.

Grodin is 5-foot-6 and weighs 170 pounds. He has light brown hair and hazel eyes and may have a tattoo on his left hand.

Grodin has previous convictions in Oklahoma for drug, retail theft and burglary charges.

Johnson encouraged anyone who knows the whereabouts of Grodin to call police immediately. The CrimeStoppers Tip Hotline is 866-371-8477. If a tip called into CrimeStoppers leads to the arrest of Grodin, the caller is eligible to receive a reward of up to $1,000.

This story was originally published July 15, 2015 at 3:08 PM with the headline "Charges: Swansea man raped and videotaped bound, naked 10-year-old girl."