MT. VERNON, IL — All court dates have been confirmed in Jefferson County Court for a 48-year-old Mt. Vernon man charged with multiple felonies accusing him of child sex crimes. Michael Lee Wheeler was arrested over the summer and charged with two Class X felonies for predatory criminal sexual assault of a child under the age of 13 and production of child pornography depicting a victim under the age of 13.
Wheeler was taken to the Jefferson County Jail where he has remained with bail set at $2 million and he was appointed a public defender. His attorney then filed a motion a few days later seeking a reduction in bond that was scheduled to be heard today (Tuesday). However, the prosecutor’s office subsequently filed a bill of indictment adding multiple charges to the case.
Wheeler is now charged with four additional Class X felony charges for videos of child pornography, and two counts Class 2 felony aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a victim under the age of 13.
A final pre-trial hearing in the case is now happening today (Tuesday), and a jury trial date has been set for February 9th.