Man denies having sex with, getting lewd pictures of girl

A Wauconda Township man pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges he molested a teenage girl and had her send him lewd photographs of herself.

Brian Porras, 39, faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted of aggravated criminal sexual abuse and solicitation of child pornography.

Lake County Assistant State's Attorney Mary Stanton said Porras, of the 28000 block of North Madison Street, molested a 16-year-old girl, also from Wauconda, between June 1 and Aug. 7 of this year.

The situation came to light, Stanton said, when the girl's mother found a love note from Porras to her daughter in her daughter's bedroom on Aug. 8.

The mother called Lake County sheriff's police, and Stanton said the victim told them she had been molested by Porras and had also e-mailed him nude photographs of herself.

The girl also told Porras the love note had been found, Stanton said, and Porras called the girl's mother on Aug. 9 and Aug. 10 seeking to discuss the situation.

Based on those phone calls, Stanton said, police were able to obtain a judge's permission to record conversations between Porras and the girl's mother.

On Aug. 12, Stanton said, Porras was recorded admitting to the mother that he had sex with her daughter. On Aug. 13, Porras was taped talking about the photos of the girl.

Police arrested Porras the next day and say they found the photos of the girl on his home computer.

Porras is scheduled to appear in court Nov. 18.