WOODSTOCK –- A judge refused to lower a Lake in the Hills man’s bail Friday after hearing allegations that he took partially nude photographs of a 14-year-old girl and created online prostitution advertisements.
Donald R. Jones, 52, of 3593 Sonoma Circle, asked Judge Joseph Condon to lower his bail from $250,000 to $170,000, which would require $17,000 to be released.
Prosecutors argued that Jones presented a flight risk, largely because he could be sentenced to between six and 30 years in prison if he is convicted of involuntary servitude of a minor.
“I agree with the assistant state’s attorney entirely on this matter,” Condon said.
Jones met a girl from Wichita, Kan., on MySpace, drove there to pick her up, and had sex with her in a hotel in Mississippi, prosecutor Phil Hiscock said. Hiscock said he was unsure whether criminal charges had been filed in connection with the incident in Mississippi.
The girl twice had sex with men for money, which ultimately was given to Jones, Hiscock told Condon. Police later found adult escort service advertisements and what appeared to be a prostitution accounting ledger when they searched Jones’ home, Hiscock said.
Defense attorney Dan Taylor denied Jones was a flight risk and suggested electronic home monitoring.
“He has a loving, supportive family that’s going to be behind him as he mounts a defense to these charges,” Taylor said.
Jones will next appear in court Feb. 18.
Also facing charges of involuntary servitude of a minor and juvenile pimping in this case are Antwanette Atkins, 42, and Kari D. Knox, 35, both of Lake in the Hills. Knox’s case is next scheduled to appear in court Feb. 5; Atkins is due in court Feb. 16.
By JILLIAN DUCHNOWSKI – [email protected]
Read the original article from the Northwest Herald.