Round Lake Park man denies soliciting girls

A Round Lake Park man denied Thursday he made illegal solicitations to three young girls last summer.

Ernest Rector, 41, pleaded not guilty to indecent solicitation of a child and sexual exploitation of a child in Lake County circuit court.

Lake County Assistant State's Attorney Reginald Matthews said Rector, of 208 Newhouse Lane, propositioned the three girls on various dates between June and September 2007.

Matthews said Rector offered an 11-year-old girl money if she would take off her clothes for him and told a 10-year-old he would give her some of her favorite candy if she would remove her clothes.

Rector is also accused of offering to buy a house for a 16-year-old girl if she would have sex with him, Matthews said.

All three girls refused Rector's advances, Matthews said.

Police became involved when the two younger girls told a friend about what had happened; police learned of the third incident during the investigation.

Circuit Judge Fred Foreman told Rector he faces up to seven years in prison if convicted of indecent solicitation and up to three years if convicted of sexual exploitation.

Both crimes are also punishable by probationary terms.

A trial was set for Sept. 8, and Rector is scheduled to appear in court Aug. 27.