A Turtle Lake man accused of having more than 2,700 images of child sexual exploitation and abuse pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to multiple felony charges and his case will head to trial in late October.
Aaron Jacobs is facing two counts of promoting or directing an obscene sexual performance by a minor and four counts related to possession of prohibited materials. If convicted on the charges of promoting or directing, Jacobs could receive a maximum of 20 years in prison and fines of up to $20,000. Convictions related to possession of prohibited materials carry maximum sentences of five years in prison and $10,000 fines. Each charge also includes mandatory registration as a sex offender.
An investigation into Jacobs began in February. McLean County deputies executed a search warrant for his cellphone and an external computer hard drive, which allegedly revealed more than 1,000 images of child exploitation and child sexual abuse materials, according to an affidavit.
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Among those images were ones that appeared to have been altered, allegedly replacing faces with Jacobs' and two identified underage girls from McLean County, the affidavit stated.
Other images collected allegedly showed a variety of underage girls engaged in various sex acts, according to the affidavit. Many of the girls appeared to be under the age of 10, the document stated.
An arrest warrant was issued on March 2 but Jacobs wasn't booked into jail until June 11, according to court documents. Deputies went to Jacobs' home in Turtle Lake on March 8 only to learn he had taken a leave from his job and fled the area, the documents said.
Jacobs remains in custody at the McLean County jail on a $100,000 cash bond.