(ABC 6 News) – UPDATE: Steven Sokel pleaded not guilty to two charges of sexually exploiting children and a charge of possessing child pornography Thursday, April 25.

He is scheduled to appear for pretrial hearings June 10 and 21, followed by a federal trial June 24.

Sokel was released from custody April 25, according to court documents.

The U.S. attorney’s office filed a motion to have that order revoked on the same day, citing allegations that Sokel molested another child in 2010, was tried for a sex crime involving children in 1988, and accessed the children he allegedly exploited in Thailand, constituting a flight risk.

“There is one place where it is guaranteed that Mr. Sokel cannot molest or exploit any more children
pending trial—pretrial detention,” court documents read.

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(ABC 6 News) – A Blooming Prairie man was indicted April 19 with sexually exploiting children while outside of the United States. according to U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.

According to the attorney’s office, Steven John Sokel, 61, is accused of aiding and abetting others to coerce three juvenile girls outside of the U.S. to engage in sexual conduct so they could produce photos and/or videos.

Sokel is also accused of possessing child pornography.

Sokel was officially charged with two counts of sexual exploitation of children and one count of possessing child pornography.

According to the attorney’s office, he will remain in custody until a formal detention hearing is held.