BENTON — A federal jury in Southern Illinois convicted a New Jersey man of attempted solicitation of child pornography after he requested sexually explicit images from an undercover law enforcement agent posing as a 12-year-old.Nicholas R. Emper, 44, of Sea Isle City, New Jersey, was found guilty of one count stemming from online communications that began in February 2025, according to court documents and evidence presented at trial. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for Jan. 19, 2027. T...