A Chicago police officer is in federal custody on charges of sex trafficking a 14-year-old girl. Officer William Whitley was named in a criminal complaint that includes charges of production of child pornography. The 60-year-old Whitley, a 26-year veteran of the Chicago Police Department, was arrested Tuesday afternoon and appeared in court today.
When U.S. Magistrate Judge Maria Valdez asked if he understood the charges, Whitley answered "yes, your honor," but otherwise did not speak in court.
Valdez ordered Whitley held without bond pending a detention hearing next week. If convicted of the charges, Whitley could face up to life in prison.
Whitley was stripped of his police powers and assigned to paid desk duty in September 2015 because of the probe.
