The Fairfax County Police

The Fairfax County Police
Sweeping it under the carpet for over fifty years

Saturday, May 12, 2012

Manito police officer charged with child porn


A Manito police officer accused of having sex with a 17 -year-old girl he met while on duty has been charged with possessing child pornography.

Nicholas W. Butler, 27, of Delavan was initially arrested by Illinois State Police officers April 24 for criminal sexual assault and official misconduct after he admitted that he had sex with a 17-year-old girl he met while performing his official duties as a part-time Manito police officer, court records said.

However, rather than charge Butler with either of those allegations, Mason County State’s Attorney Kristen Miller has charged the man with two counts of child pornography, according to court records.

Butler allegedly possessed two lewd photos of a girl that he reasonably should have known was under the age of 18, according to the charges against him.

Butler posted $2,500 in bail April 26 and waived his preliminary hearing through his attorney Thursday. He pleaded not guilty to the charges, and Eighth Circuit Judge Alan D. Tucker set the matter for jury trial, with the pre-trial hearing set for June 29 in Havana before Eighth Circuit Judge Scott Butler.

He has been placed on the trial calendar for the week of July 9.