Frakes trial set for Feb. 20

By Editor | January 18, 2017 |

A jury trial for a man charged last summer with three counts of child pornography is now scheduled to be held a month from now.

At a pretrial hearing on Tuesday, Judge Kevin Parker learned that both the office of State’s Attorney Joshua Morrison and the attorney for William Frakes are prepared for a trial for Frakes.
That trial is scheduled to begin on Feb. 20 with jury selection getting under way at 8:30 a.m.
Frakes was taken into custody by Vandalia Police on July 18 after Morrison’s office had earlier in the day filed three felony charges.
On Dec. 27 of last year, the state’s attorney’s office filed three amended counts, two Class X felonies and one Class 2 felony.
The two Class X felony counts allege that between May 26, 2015, and May 4 of last year, Frakes “knowingly obtained a photograph of a child depicted as being bound, actually or by simulation, whom the defendant would have reason to know is under 13 years of age.”
Class X felonies are punishable by up to 30 years in prison and/or a fine of up to $25,000.
The Class 2 felony charge alleges that during the same period, Frakes, “with knowledge of the nature thereof, possessed a photography of a child whom the defendant reasonably should have known to be under the age of 13.”
Class 2 felonies are punishable by up to seven years in prison and/or a fine of up to $25,000.
Upon signing the arrest warrant for Frakes, Fayette County Resident Circuit Judge Don Sheafor set bond for Frakes at $350,000.
About two weeks after his arrest, Frakes filed a motion requesting that his bond be lowered. Sheafor denied that request.
The attorney for Frakes, Robert Bas of Edwardsville, fined a second request for bond reduction on Nov. 18, and on Nov. 28, Judge Michael D. McHaney denied that request.
At Monday’s hearing, Parker set a pretrial hearing for 1 p.m. on Feb. 7.