WADSWORTH, Ill. (WLS) — A man from the northern suburbs is now facing serious charges of child pornography, following his arrest on allegations of downloading nearly 200,000 illicit files, according to the police.
Authorities in Lake County reported that 74-year-old Steven C. Kazmer was taken into custody on Wednesday in Wadsworth. He is presently charged with eight felony counts related to child pornography.
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The investigation was a collaborative effort involving the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office, Woodstock Police Department, and the Illinois Attorney General’s Internet Crime Against Children Task Force. Officials discovered that the suspect was allegedly engaged in downloading and distributing child sexual abuse material.
On Wednesday, a search warrant was carried out at a residence located in the 4700 block of Pebble Beach Drive in Wadsworth by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Waukegan Police Department, and the Illinois Attorney General’s Office. They were assisted by the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office’s Electronic Storage Detection K9s, Enzo and Grip.
Kazmer was apprehended after numerous electronic devices, allegedly containing deleted child sexual abuse material, were recovered, as reported by the authorities.
The suspect appeared in court Thursday, where he was ordered to remain in custody pending his trial.
Kazmer is scheduled to appear in court again August 5.
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