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Police: Ingleside man sent, received sexually explicit images with Edwardsville girl

An Ingleside man found in possession of child pornography in 2016 was again arrested Friday after police say he sent and received sexually explicit material with a 12-year-old girl.

Lake County sheriff's deputies arrested 29-year-old Joshua S. Hoffman on a warrant Friday, according to a news release.

Hoffman, of the 35700 block of North Ash Street, is charged in Lake County with possession of a controlled substance and possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance. More charges are expected once a forensic examination of Hoffman's electronic devices is completed, according to the release.

Hoffman also is charged in Madison County - just northeast of St. Louis - with possession of child pornography and grooming. The most serious count of child pornography is punishable by six to 30 years in prison.

Hoffman was arrested in 2016 after officers searched his home and found he was in possession of hundreds of pornographic videos of children, according to the release. He also was found in possession of drugs and a firearm at the time. Hoffman was sentenced to 180 days in jail and two years of probation in connection with the 2016 child pornography charges, records show.

This month, Lake County sheriff's detectives learned Hoffman was having inappropriate online conversations with a 12-year-old girl from Edwardsville, according to a news release. During those conversations, Hoffman solicited and received nude images from the child and in one online video conversation, exposed himself to the girl, according to the release.

Officers who searched Hoffman's house Friday seized an undisclosed amount of drugs and multiple electronic devices, according to the release.

A warrant issued for Hoffman's arrest in Madison County listed a $500,000 bond. He remained at the Lake County jail Monday morning and is scheduled to make a court appearance Tuesday in Lake County.

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