A New Windsor man charged with three Class X felony child porn counts has waived his preliminary hearing. 59 year old James Pierson entered a not guilty plea to the charges Tuesday morning in Mercer County Circuit Court. A pre-trial conference is scheduled for April 6. Pierson was arrested earlier this month following an investigation that began in January. He is being held in the Mercer County Jail on $500,000 bond. Illinois State Police Division of Criminal Investigation, Mercer County Sheriff’s Office, Kewanee Police Department, New Windsor Police Department, Illinois Attorney General’s Office and federal authorities are involved in the investigation.
