An Iowa man will stand trial in Peoria next month for child sex offenses. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for Central Illinois says Michael Shell was indicted on multiple charges. They include the sexual explotation of a child, travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct and aggravated sexual abuse of a child.
The indictment alleges the 49-year-old from Melrose, Iowa, traveled across state lines on multiple occations between July 2011 and January 2015 to commit child sex acts and produce child pronography.
Shell’s trial is set for July 29.
He was charged following an investigation by multiple Illinois and Iowa law enforcement agencies including the Peoria County Sheriff’s Office, the Canton Police Department and the Bloomington Police Department.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Springfield says the investigation is part of the nationwide Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which was started by the Department of Justice in May 2006.
