A Seaton man charged in a sex abuse case has waived his right to a jury trial. A bench trial is now set for 51-year-old Mark Hockenberry on July 3 in Mercer County Circuit Court.
He was charged in November of 2022 with predatory criminal sexual assault of a child and aggravated criminal sexual abuse in connection with allegations in 2020, 2021, and 2022 involving a female youth. He has pleaded not guilty to those charges.
Hockenberry has also been charged with harassment through electronic communication. A July 3 status hearing is scheduled in that case.
He posted ten percent $250,000 bond in the sex assault case and then posted another ten percent $40,000 bond in the harassment case.
