Illinois Youth Pastor Charged in Child Porn Case

Nicholas Lawrence is already charged with sexually assaulting a child

A former youth pastor already charged with sexually assaulting a child has been indicted on child pornography charges in Peoria County.

Nicholas Lawrence, 26, of Pekin, was indicted by a grand jury this week. He faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted of the latest charge, The (Peoria) Journal Star reported.

Prosecutors said he caused a person younger than 13 to appear in a sexually explicit photo in May.

He was indicted in September on charges of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child and aggravated criminal sex abuse. He faces up to 60 years behind bars for those charges.

Lawrence was a youth pastor with the Pekin Church of God for nearly two years until he was fired in June.

It wasn't immediately clear if he has an attorney.

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