Lake Co. Man Faces Child Porn Charges

LAKE COUNTY, IL — A Lake County man faces charges for allegations he had dozens of videos and images of child pornography, including videos showing infants being sexually assaulted.

The Lake County Sheriff's Office launched an investigation after learning images and videos containing child pornography were being downloaded at a home in the 2300 block of Joppa Avenue in Zion, according to a news release from the sheriff's office. They also learned the person was saving the videos and images to a cloud account.

Detectives searched the home on Tuesday and took Christopher J. Abernathy, 37, who lives at the home, into custody, according to police.

Digital forensic examiners with the Illinois Attorney General’s Office analyzed Abernathy’s electronic devices, which revealed dozens of videos with children as young as infants being sexually assaulted, according to a news release.

Abernathy has been charged with three counts of possession of child pornography. Additional charges are possible, authorities said.

Abernathy is being held at the Lake County Jail and is expected to make an initial court appearance Wednesday morning. The state’s attorney’s office is filing a petition to detain Abernathy in custody while he is awaiting trial.