A man arrested in a Mercer County grooming and sexual assault investigation has posted ten percent of his $400,000 bond. 52-year-old Jeffrey Smith is charged with seven felony counts—including criminal sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual abuse, grooming, and exploitation of a child. The court has appointed a public defender in the case despite objections from the state. A preliminary hearing is set for May 1.
Smith’s arrest is part of an investigation involving co-defendant Jennifer Younge. She is charged with a Class X felony of involuntary servitude of a minor, Class 1 felony of permitting sexual abuse of a child, three Class 1 felony counts of criminal sexual assault, and one Class 2 felony of aggravated criminal sexual abuse. Younge has pleaded not guilty to all charges and has posted ten percent of her $500,000 bond. Her next court date is May 8.