Man guilty of trying to buy sex with minors in Aurora sting
A Kane County jury Wednesday found a Pennsylvania man guilty of involuntary sexual servitude of a minor in connection with a reverse human trafficking sting in Aurora in 2015.
Shane R. Lewis, 38, was also found guilty of charges of traveling to meet a minor, and grooming a child for sex.
The jury took less than two hours to reach its decision.
Lewis, of Kennett Square, was in Downers Grove on a business trip on Jan. 8, 2015, when he responded to an ad in the escort service section of backpage.com.
The ad had been placed by Aurora police, who were in a six-week operation with the Department of Homeland Security.
A Homeland Security agent communicated via text with Lewis. The agent told Lewis she was the mother of two girls, ages 14 and 15, and that it would cost $200 for him to be with the girls that night. The texts specified what would and would not be allowed.
Another Homeland Security agent played the role of the mother when Lewis arrived at the specified room at the hotel on the west side of Aurora.
Lewis testified Tuesday that he had never thought about having sex with minors until agents put the idea in his head, and that he had sought an escort for companionship because he was lonely, sad and depressed. He kept pursuing it, even when it became clear to him there was a "sexual agenda," partly out of curiosity, he testified. His attorney argued he had been entrapped, induced by officers to commit a crime he normally would not have been disposed to commit. The word "sex" was not used in the texts.
Lewis's first response, upon learning the girls were 14 and 15, was " ... Not interested in minors? R U crazy?" followed by "I'm 32. 18 is good but nothing under that. 2 risky."
The text messages showed he suggested just meeting with the mother. But when that was rejected, he then asked how much it would cost for all three, according to the texts.
Lewis was arrested that night at the hotel. He was one of eight people charged with crimes during the six-week operation.
Kane County Associate Judge Linda Abrahamson revoked Lewis' bond upon conviction. He faces six to 30 years in prison when sentenced Sept. 22, and would have to serve at least 85 percent of his sentence.