Ottawa man charged with sexual exploitation of a child

A felony charge for a man accused of showing porn and his genitals to a girl under 13 years old.

Police arrested James Merutka of Ottawa Wednesday, a day after the La Salle County State’s Attorney’s office issued a warrant for his arrest.

The girl told police it happened earlier this month at his home.

Merutka is charged with sexual exploitation of a child, a class four felony.  He’s being held at the La Salle County Jail with his bond set at $15,000.

Ottawa Man Accused Of Trying To Have Detectives Killed

A man from Ottawa already in jail for sex abuse charges now is accused of trying to hire a fellow inmate to kill four people.

According to the Joliet Herald News, Christian Shepherd faces four counts of solicitation of murder for hire.  He allegedly offered six thousand dollars to an inmate to kill two Crest Hill detectives, a boy he allegedly abused and the boy’s mom.

Shepherd was arrested last month and taken to the Will County Jail for allegedly abusing boys in Crest Hill, Bolingbrook and Lockport.

His last address is an apartment on the south side of Ottawa on Dakota Drive.

Judge Makes Call On Ameren Power Lines

After years of wrangling, it looks like Ameren finally has direction on where to put high-powered transmission lines from Ottawa to Wedron.

Administrative Law Judge John Albers wants the lines to go up Route 71, much to the dismay of the Route 71 Resistors but much to the enjoyment of another landowner group, the Fox River Alliance.  In a 38-page ruling, Albers says going up Route 71 instead of going along the Fox River will cost less, have less impact on the environment, and effects less landowners.

The judge’s decision still needs approval by the Illinois Commerce Commission which is expected to happen in the next few weeks.

Hall Joins Tri-County Conference

Anticipating the demise of the NCIC, Hall High School’s board voted Wednesday to join the Tri-County Conference starting with the 2011-2012 season.

Hall will be competing in the Tri-County in every sport but football.  They previously decided to join the West Central Conference for that sport.  Joining the Tri-County means Hall will be the largest school enrollment wise in the league.  In the NCIC, they’ve been playing some schools twice their size.

The Tri-County includes teams like Ottawa Marquette, Putnam County and Streator Woodland.

Thanks to the News-Tribune for information in this story.