Man denies asking girl to become prostitute

A Buffalo Grove man is facing up to 15 years in prison if he is convicted of trying to talk a teenage girl into going to work as a prostitute.

Leo Gutkin, 61, pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges of solicitation for a juvenile prostitute and indecent solicitation of a child.

Lake County Assistant State's Attorney Ken Larue said Gutkin, of 217 Old Oak Court Lane W, placed an ad in a Russian-language newspaper offering driving lessons.

The parents of a 16-year-old Vernon Hills girl hired Gutkin to teach their daughter how to drive, Larue said, and Gutkin picked her up Oct. 5 for her first lesson.

While alone in his car with the girl, Larue said, Gutkin asked her how much she was paid at her part-time job at a store and she replied $9 per hour.

Gutkin told the girl he had a friend who ran an "erotic massage parlor" where she could make $5,000 a month performing sex acts with men, Larue said.

Gutkin dropped her off at her job, Larue said, and told her they could discuss the offer further during the next lesson.

Once inside the store where she works, the girl called her parents and they took her to Vernon Hills police.

Police said Gutkin told the girl he had a friend who ran a "studio" where she might be able to get a job, but denied telling the girl sex would be involved.

Circuit Judge George Bridges scheduled a trial for Feb. 2 and told Gutkin to appear in court again Dec. 23.