Crime & Safety

Wheaton Teen Pleads Not Guilty to Child Porn, Luring and Grooming Charges

Eric Pence, 19, pleads not guilty to charges of child pornography possession, luring, grooming and traveling to meet a minor in DuPage County.

A 19-year-old Wheaton man charged with possession of child pornography and child luring pleaded not guilty in DuPage County Court Monday morning.

Eric Pence, 19, of the 0-100 block of Circle Avenue in Wheaton turned himself in to Wheaton police Friday, Sept. 7, according to a press release from the Wheaton Police Department.

Pence pleaded not guilty to five counts of possession of child pornography, and one count of grooming, child luring and traveling to meet a minor, according to court records.

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Police said he was charged after an investigation that started with a 12-year-old's parents' complaint. Pence allegedly communicated with the girl in the alleged pornography via text messages and tried to invite her to have sex, according to the Daily Herald.

A DuPage County judge on Sept. 8 ordered Pence to have no contact with anyone under 18 and to not use a computer, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Find out what's happening in Wheatonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Pence was booked at DuPage County Jail Sept. 7 with a $200,000 bail. He remains at the jail on $10,000 bond.

Other recent police news:

  • Former Assisted Living Home Employee Charged with Theft From Residents
  • 'Wheaton Man Charged With Child Pornography
  • Teen Pleads Not Guilty to Predatory Sex Assault of Child and More: Court Watch

Police Blotter information is provided by local law enforcement agencies. 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.

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