Illinois man charged with enticing minor

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — A local Illinois man was indicted Friday on charges of enticing a minor following an investigation by the Decatur (Illinois) Police Department, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), in cooperation with the Macon County State Attorney’s office.

Jeffrey Parkhurst, 58, of Springfield, made his initial appearance in federal court in Urbana late Friday on a charge of enticing a minor. He pleaded not guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Eric I. Long, Central District of Illinois. The indictment against Parkhurst was returned by the grand jury earlier this month but had remained sealed pending his federal court appearance.

The indictment alleges that on July 27 Parkhurst used the Internet and a cellphone to persuade, induce, and entice an individual whom he believed was under the age of 18 to engage in illegal sexual activity.

Parkhurst was arrested July 27 in Decatur.  He was initially charged in state court in Macon County. Judge Long ordered that Parkhurst remain in custody pending his Sept. 22 detention hearing.  His trial has been scheduled for Nov. 24. 

If convicted, the statutory penalty for enticing a minor is 10 years to life in prison plus a fine of up to $250,000.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Elly M. Peirson, Central District of Illinois, is prosecuting this case.

The public is reminded that an indictment is merely an accusation; the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

This investigation was conducted under HSI’s Operation Predator, an international initiative to protect children from sexual predators. Since the launch of Operation Predator in 2003, HSI has arrested more than 12,000 individuals for crimes against children, including the production and distribution of online child pornography, traveling overseas for sex with minors, and sex trafficking of children. In fiscal year 2014, more than 2,300 individuals were arrested by HSI special agents under this initiative and more than 1,000 victims identified or rescued.

HSI encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free Tip Line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or by completing its online tip form. Both are staffed around the clock by investigators. From outside the U.S. and Canada, callers should dial 802-872-6199. Hearing impaired users can call TTY 802-872-6196. Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, via its toll-free 24-hour hotline, 1-800-THE-LOST.

For additional information about wanted suspected child predators, download HSI’s Operation Predator smartphone app or visit the online suspect alerts page. HSI is a founding member and current chair of the Virtual Global Taskforce, an international alliance of law enforcement agencies and private industry sector partners working together to prevent and deter online child sexual abuse.