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Child Porn Charges Dropped Against Teenager

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Will County prosecutors are dropping charges against a 16-year-old alleged prostitute who was accused of child pornography after being caught with nude pictures of herself on her iPod.

The girl was caught up in a prostitution sting undercover police officers conducted at a motel in Joliet this week.

The girl's alleged pimp and another prostitute were also arrested.

After reviewing the case, the state's attorney's office reduced the 16-year-old's charges to trespassing.

Joliet Police Chief Mike Trafton said police had received complaints about prostitutes working out of the motel at 1850 McDonough St., and sent in tactical officers at about 10 p.m. Undercover officers went to two second-floor rooms and were offered a chance to pay for sex, Trafton said.

They arrested Joche L. Hayes, 22, of Joliet; Gabrielle K. Pepper, 20, of Westmont; and a 16-year-old Crete girl, according to reports. Hayes was the pimp, police said. Hayes was originally charged with criminal sexual abuse, but prosecutors reduced his charges to trespassing, after reviewing the evidence.


LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio's Mike Krauser Reports

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The Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this report

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