A 59-year-old Springfield man has been convicted of attempting to entice a minor into illegal sexual activity.
Jeffrey Parkhurst, of the 1100 block of Reynolds St., was found guilty by a jury after a trial that began on March 29, 2016.
The jury deliberated for approximately 26 minutes before returning the verdict on August 1, 2016.
According to evidence presented during the trial, in July 2015, Parkhurst used the Internet and a cellular telephone to knowingly attempt to entice an individual he believed to be a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity.
Parkhurst was arrested on July 27, 2015 in Decatur, Illinois, and charged initially by state authorities.
He has remained in custody since his arrest and was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service on September 18, 2015.
The statutory penalty for attempted enticement of a minor is 10 years to life in prison plus a fine of up to $250,000.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elly M. Peirson. The charges are the result of an investigation by the Decatur Police Department and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations in cooperation with the Macon County State’s Attorney.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice.
Related Federal Cases
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- Robert Shawn Anderson, Enticement of a Minor, Illinois 2023 · Illinois
- Michael Glawe, Attempted Enticement of a Minor, Iowa 2013 · Iowa
- Kevin Trittien, Attempted Enticement of Minor and Distribution of Child Pornography, Iowa 2012 · Illinois
Key Facts
- State: Illinois
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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