Child Porn Case Going to Closed-Door Negotiations

Negotiations continue in the case against a 28-year-old Orland Park man charged with felony possession of child pornography, according to the man’s attorney.

Eric Holt pleaded not guilty at his arraignment on Dec. 4 to charges against him, after the Orland Park Police Department said child pornography was found on his computer.

Holt’s attorney David O’Connor asked to set a date for a “402 conference,” during a brief court hearing Tuesday in Judge Colleen Ann Hyland’s Bridgeview courtroom. Holt, who is out on bail, attended the hearing but didn’t speak during the short proceeding.

The type of conference is described by the Cook County Guide to the Criminal Justice System as a method for plea bargaining, however O’Connor declined to comment on the nature of the conference.

The conferences are held privately, where a judge hears information about the case from the defense and prosecution, including information about the defendant's background and home life. The judge usually will offer a sentence that would be given if the defendant pleads guilty, according to the Cook County guide.

“Negotiations are ongoing,” O’Connor said Wednesday. “We have to wait until things are resolved to see if both sides can reach an agreement. Both sides are working out the discovery and seeing if we can resolve this.”

Holt was arrested in Oct. 2012 after a joint investigation , revealed images were found on a computer belonging to Holt, according to police. He does not have prior history of similar crimes, Orland Park Police Commander John Keating said at the time.

Holt is scheduled next to be in court on April 10.

Looking for more police stories?

• Orland Park Man Charged with Palos Heights Home Invasion

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