Latest news with #SexOffenderRegistrationAct
Chicago Tribune
6 days ago
- Chicago Tribune
St. Charles man charged with possessing and disseminating child pornography, per officials
A St. Charles man has been charged with possessing and disseminating child pornography, the Kane County State's Attorney's Office and Kane County Sheriff's Office said in a news release Thursday. Corey J. McDonald, 29, of St. Charles was arrested at his residence on Monday, the news release said, following an investigation by the Kane County Child Exploitation Unit, an initiative the State's Attorney's Office and Kane County Sheriff's Office started in 2022 aiming to keep children in the state safe from sexual exploitation. This investigation began as a result of a CyberTip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. State's Attorney Jamie Mosser is alleging that, in January, McDonald disseminated multiple images containing child sexual abuse material to a chat group on Kik, an instant messaging platform, the release said. Mosser is also alleging that McDonald violated the Sex Offender Registration Act. According to Kane County court records, McDonald was convicted on child pornography-related charges in 2019. The complaint accuses McDonald of failing to notify the St. Charles Police Department that he was using the instant messaging identity, leading to the charge of violating the Sex Offender Registration Act. McDonald is being charged with eight counts of possessing child pornography, eight counts of disseminating child pornography and two counts of violating the Sex Offender Registration Act, according to the news release. He is being detained in the Kane County jail while he awaits his pretrial hearing, the release noted, with his next court appearance set for July 24.
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Yahoo
Expert explains what level 1 sex offender means
CENTRAL NEW YORK, (WSYR-TV) — 33-year-old Ryan Pontello was scheduled to appear in court Friday afternoon, but waived his right to Friday's court hearing. Pontello is accused of sexually assaulting a 5-year-old girl in Clay. Pontello has been registered as a level 1 sex offender for more than a decade. Many people are now questioning the state's Sex Offender Registration Act, following Pontello's arrest earlier this week. In New York State there are three risk levels, level 1 is considered a low risk of re-offense, level 2 a medium risk of re-offense, and level 3 a high risk of re-offense. 'The more severe the crime the more appoints assigned, the more points assigned, the higher the risk level, the higher the risk level, the greater amount of information that goes out into the community,' said Laura Ahearn, New York State Licensed Attorney and Social Worker on Long Island. It's up to the judge to determine the person's risk level after a court hearing. For level 1 offenders like Pontello, state law does not require his name to be listed in an online registry. 'Community organizations that are looking into the background of individuals if they have an address or a drivers license id number they can actually contact New York State Sex Offender Registry and verify a level one. Level one information is more restricted and it really shouldn't be that way,' said Ahearn. Information on level 2 and level 3 offenders can be found here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Gibson City man sentenced to 32 years in prison for child porn
PAXTON, Ill. (WCIA) — A 25-year-old man, formerly of Gibson City, has been sentenced to 32 years in prison for four counts of possession of child pornography. WCIA's partners with the Ford County Chronicle reported that Ryan J. Nelson received his sentence after pleading guilty in the Ford County Circuit Court on May 13. Paxton Police arrest Bradley man for traveling to meet child According to Ford County State's Attorney Andrew Killian, Nelson, who was already on probation in DeWitt County for aggravated criminal sexual abuse, reported to the Ford County probation department on Jan. 31, 2025, and was discovered to have a cellphone in his possession that had not been registered as required by the Sex Offender Registration Act. While examining his cellphone, probation officers found what they believed was child pornography on it. They then reported it to law enforcement, who ended up arresting Nelson that same day, according to Killian. Additionally, a search of Nelson's Gibson City house, pursuant to a search warrant obtained from Judge Matt Fitton, discovered more electronic devices that contained child pornography, Killian said, who then charged Nelson with 10 counts — including four Class 1 felonies and six Class 2 felonies. 'Mr. Nelson was, with every video he downloaded, victimizing unknown children and driving the demand for this type of material to be created,' Killian said in a news release. Paxton's pool pump fixed, pool opening draws closer Nelson was then sentenced to four consecutive eight-year terms (32 years total) in the Illinois Department of Corrections upon entering his plea of guilty to the four Class 1 felony charges. He will receive credit against his sentence for the 103 days he has already served in the Ford County Jail. Public defender Harvey Welch of Urbana represented Nelson in this case. 'This case was a joint effort between Ford County Court Services, the Paxton and Gibson City police departments and the Ford County Sheriff`s Department, who spearheaded the investigation,' Killian said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Yahoo
Rochelle man found unfit to stand trial on solicitation of sex with minor charge
May 2—OREGON — A Rochelle man charged with indecent solicitation of a child and violating the Sex Offender Registration Act has been found unfit to stand trial after a mental health evaluation. Timothy J. O'Dell, 28, of Rochelle, was remanded to the Ogle County Jail after the decision by Judge Anthony Peska on April 24. O'Dell was arrested by Rochelle police after the department was contacted March 6 about a man trying to meet with a minor for sex in Rochelle. He was arrested after an investigation by the Rochelle Police Department Patrol Division. During a March 12 hearing, O'Dell's attorney requested that his client be evaluated by Jayne Braden, a forensic and clinical psychologist in Sycamore. Ogle County Assistant Public Defender Michael O'Brien said he had a "bona fide doubt" as to O'Dell's ability to help with his defense and asked Peska for the court-appointed evaluation. During the April 24 hearing, O'Dell appeared in court with Chief Public Defender Kathleen Isley, who asked Peska to declare O'Dell unfit based on the results of the evaluation. Assistant State's Attorney Matthew Leisten agreed with the evaluation. Peska found O'Dell unfit for trial and entered an order for treatment to be forwarded to the Ogle County sheriff. A status fitness hearing is set for 1 p.m. May 28. O'Dell, who already had a pending charge of violating the Sex Offender Registration Act in Ogle County, was sentenced in 2023 to probation for the same offense. The Ogle County State's Attorney's Office filed three felony charges against O'Dell on March 7: one count of violating the Sex Offender Registration Act and two counts of indecent solicitation of a child. According to court documents, O'Dell failed to report to the Rochelle Police Department "any instant messaging identities, any internet communication identities" that he uses or planned to use, or other internet sites "to which he has uploaded any content or posted any messages or information." In the solicitation charges, he is accused of intending to commit aggravated criminal sexual abuse when he "knowingly solicited one whom he believed to be a child to perform an act of sexual penetration or sexual conduct," discussing the meeting on the internet. In October, Judge John Redington, who is now retired, found O'Dell fit to stand trial on a previous charge of violating the terms of his probation sentence when he allegedly failed to register as a sex offender with the Rochelle Police Department. That case still is pending. In Illinois, individuals convicted of certain sex offenses must register as sex offenders with the local law enforcement agency in the community they reside. O'Dell has been held in the Ogle County Jail since his arrest March 6.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Yahoo
Disturbance suspect slashes officer with piece of glass: Oxnard PD
An Oxnard police officer responding to a family dispute was hospitalized after being cut in the face by the suspect Monday afternoon, police said. Officers responded to the disturbance call around 2:30 p.m. in the 1600 block of Astoria Place, the Oxnard Police Department stated in its post on Facebook. 'Upon arrival, officers learned that the suspect, Lucio Sedeno, had battered a family member and was out of 290 PC compliance,' police said in the post. Penal code 290 refers to the Sex Offender Registration Act, on the California Legislative Information website. At some point during the call, Sedano tried to run from the officers who gave chase. 'During the foot pursuit, Sedeno obtained a piece of glass and slashed at officers, which caused a one-inch laceration to an officer's jaw,' police said. The unidentified officer was taken to a local hospital to be treated and is expected to make a full recovery. Sedano was taken into custody and booked on suspicion of several crimes, including assault with a deadly weapon, police said. Anyone with further information was asked to call the Oxnard Police Department at 805-385-7600 or online via the Department's website and clicking on Report Suspicious Activity under the Contact Tab. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
