BENTON (WMIX) – The pretrial hearing for a 29-year-old Benton man charged with multiple child pornography charges was continued Wednesday in Franklin County Court after the defense revealed federal charges could be pending against their client.

Austin W. Lee is facing 10 counts of possession of child pornography, Class 2 felonies, each punishable by up to seven years in prison; and five counts of sexual contact/sexual conduct with an animal, Class 4 felonies, each punishable by up to three years in prison.

He was arrested on those charges in November and remains in the Franklin County Jail. He’s waived his right to a speedy trial in this case.

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul’s investigators, with the assistance of the Benton Police Department, conducted a search of Lee’s home in October 2023 in Benton and arrested him after discovering evidence of child pornography and sexual conduct with an animal.

Lee is already awaiting sentencing in federal court after he pleaded guilty last year to possessing child pornography.

He’s scheduled to be sentenced in federal court March 19. It’s unclear if new federal charges will be filed by that time.

In Franklin County he’s next scheduled to appear April 17 for another pretrial hearing.