Man Caught In Aurora Underage Sex Sting Gets 6 Years

AURORA, IL — Shane R. Lewis, who traveled to Aurora and paid to have sex with children, was sentenced to six years in prison Friday. In addition, he must be registered as a sex offender for 10 years. Associate Judge Linda S. Abrahamson handed down the sentence to the 38-year-old Pennsylvania man. Lewis was convicted in August of involuntary sexual servitude of a minor, traveling to meet a minor, and grooming.

In a press release from the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office, Kane County prosecutors presented evidence that back in January, Lewis, who was in the Chicago area for business purposes, traveled from DuPage County to an Aurora hotel. The intent was to pay to have sex with what he believed would be a 14-year-old girl and a 15-year-old girl. When Lewis arrived at the hotel, he met a person he thought was the girls’ mother, confirmed that he wanted sexual favors, paid her $200, and was arrested by officers from Homeland Security Investigations and the Aurora Police Department.

Kane County State’s Attorney Joe McMahon said, “Mr. Lewis has taken great pains to avoid responsibility for his actions. He has blamed everyone but himself, and he has failed to see how he is a part of the unconscionable problem that is child sex trafficking. In fact this is basic economics, the law of supply and demand. There is a supply because there is a demand. Mr. Lewis represents the demand side. This office will continue to do its part to eliminate demand.”

Lewis has already served over three months in the Kane County jail, which will count toward his sentence. The remainder will be served at the Illinois Department of Corrections. The case was prosecuted by Kane County Assistant State’s Attorney Christine Bayer and Kane County First Assistant State’s Attorney Jody Gleason.

Photo of Lewis via Kane County State's Attorney's Office