Randolph County State’s Attorney Jeremy Walker reported that on March 21, Gary D. Poenitske pled guilty to the charge of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child.
Poenitske, 52, of Steeleville, was initially arrested by the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office on Dec. 8, 2021 in connection to an ongoing child pornography investigation. He appeared before Judge Richard Brown on Dec. 10 and his bond was set at $30,000. He posted bond later that day.
However, he was arrested again on Dec. 17 on an additional charge of creating child pornography. That time, Poenitske’s bond was set at $250,000 and he was incarcerated at the Randolph County Jail.
For more on this case, please see this week’s print edition.