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Man pleads not guilty to making false child abduction claim

A central Illinois man faces felony charges after allegedly concocting a story his car being stolen with a 13-month old child inside that triggered a statewide ...

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LEWISTON, Ill. (AP) — A central Illinois man faces felony charges after allegedly concocting a story his car being stolen with a 13-month old child inside that triggered a statewide Amber Alert.

The (Springfield) State Journal-Register reports that the charges of obstructing justice, disorderly conduct and motor vehicle burglary against 18-year-old Mitchell Dutz of Mason City stem from a Dec. 15 incident in Farmington. Police say Dutz reported to police that he was inside a gas station when three people stole his car.

Related: Police say no child is in danger, one person in custody But police soon determined Dutz made up the story to cover up a drug deal. There was never a missing child and gas station surveillance video didn't reveal any vehicles matching the one Dutz described.Dutz pleaded not guilty Wednesday and a judge set his bail at $50,000.