Judge won't lower bond for McHenry man accused of pimping

A judge refused to lower bond Thursday for an 18-year-old McHenry man accused of pimping a minor girl prostitute several times at a local motel.

Josue A. Gomez, of the 4200 block of Crystal Lake Road, remains in custody at the McHenry County jail after Judge Sharon Prather ruled his $80,000 bond is appropriate for someone who, like him, is facing up to 15 years in prison.

Gomez is charged with one count of juvenile pimping, a Class 1 felony that accuses him of collecting $40 from a girl Sept. 21 knowing she had earned it working as a prostitute. During a bond hearing Thursday, Assistant McHenry County State's Attorney Ryan Blackney said evidence indicates Gomez had arranged for the girl to have sex with seven men on separate occasions at a motel on North Chapel Hill Road, near Johnsburg. Five of the men didn't follow through after the girl began crying, Blackney said.

When questioned by police, Blackney said, Gomez denied he was the girl's pimp, instead telling officers he was the "muscle" and translator for the real pimp.

After the bond request was denied, Gomez formally pleaded not guilty to the charge and asked for a jury trial. A trial was scheduled for January.