A Seaton man has pleaded not guilty to a Class X felony charge of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child. 45-year-old Frank W. Wheeler appeared in Mercer County Circuit Court Monday morning where he waived his preliminary hearing. Wheeler was arrested last week following an investigation by the Mercer County Sheriff’s Department. They were responding to a child abuse report. A pre-trial conference is set for Oct. 18. Wheeler remains in custody at the Mercer County Jail on $100,000 bond.
Class X felonies are punishable by 6-to-30 years in prison upon conviction.
