A Havana man is pleading not guilty to charges accusing him of trying to have sexual contact with a Galesburg minor.
Kevin Cooper, 32, was in Knox County Court Wednesday for what was to be a preliminary hearing on charges including Grooming, Soliciting To Meet a Child, Traveling to Meet a Minor, and two different counts of Indecent Solicitation.
Cooper instead waived his right to a preliminary hearing, and made the not guilty plea.
Cooper was arrested in late-September. Authorities say he was on his way to a Galesburg home to pick the 15-year-old up, take that person to a hotel room, have sex with the minor, and offer the child marijuana.
Public Defender Chris Kanthak told Judge Chad Long he expects to bring up the issue of Cooper’s continued detention in the Knox County Jail at a later time.
A pre-trial hearing is scheduled for December second, with a potential trial taking place December 16th.
