A 72-year-old Mokena man was booked in county jail Tuesday after police say he sexually abused three children. 

John L. Tarrant, of the 20000 block of Briar Wood Lane in Mokena, was charged with predatory criminal sexual assault and aggravated criminal sexual assault. Both are Class X felonies that carry a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison. 

Will County Sheriff's Department spokeswoman Kathy Hoffmeyer said the children were relatives of the accused.

Hoffmeyer said the kids' mother called police March 29. Sheriff's police investigated the claims and during an interview with Tarrant, "he incriminated himself," Hoffmeyer said. 

Tarrant is being held in Will County Jail pending a bond hearing.

Sheriff's blotter information is provided by the Will County Sheriff's Department. Charges are not evidence of guilt. They are a record of police actions taken on a given day, and persons charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. If you or a family member are charged or cited and the case is subsequently adjudicated, we encourage you to notify the editor. We will verify and report the outcome.