UPDATED: Prosecutor says Facebook user knew LeRoy girl he was soliciting for sex was only 11

Posted on October 19, 2018

LeRoy Police arrested Edward Harper at his Danville home on Thursday. Prosecutors charged Harper with indecent solicitation of a child. (LeRoy Police Department photo.)

By Howard Packowitz

BLOOMINGTON – A man reportedly told LeRoy Police he was drunk, and it was stupid for him to communicate with an 11-year old girl he knew on the Facebook Messenger application to lure her into having sex.

McLean County prosecutors Friday charged Edward Harper, 49, of Danville with two felony counts of indecent solicitation of a child for allegedly asking the child to visit him in Danville for a sexual encounter.

At a bond hearing, Assistant State’s Attorney Jacob Harlow said the girl’s mother called LeRoy PD after finding out her daughter had been solicited for sex on Facebook.

Harlow said the child asked Harper if it bothered him that she was only 11.

“Yes, but who cares,” Harper allegedly replied.

Associate Judge Sarah Duffy set bond at $100,000, meaning Harper has to post $10,035 to be released from jail. If he’s released, Duffy ordered Harper not to have contact with anyone younger than 18.

Duffy appointed a public defender to represent Harper, who’s scheduled to appear in court again November 2.

Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]

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