Online Tip Leads To Child Pornography Charges: Sheriff

FRANKFORT, IL — A 24-year-old man from Frankfort Township was arrested Wednesday and charged with three counts of child pornography, according to the Will County Sheriff's Office. Michael Kennedy, 24, was taken into custody without incident at his home on Wednesday after an arrest warrant was issued on Monday, the sheriff's office said.

According to the sheriff's office, in December 2019, the Investigation Unit received an online tip from the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force about someone who was possibly sharing and uploading hundreds of child pornography videos and images online.

Detectives began an investigation which led them Kennedy, the sheriff's office said. A search warrant was executed in August 2020, and several electronic devices were collected. Detectives also interviewed Kennedy on that day, and he made several statements implicating himself, the sheriff's office said.

Over the next several months, forensic examinations were done on the devices, and an arrest warrant was secured, the sheriff's office said.

Over the next several months, forensic examinations were implemented on the devices. Upon completion of the full investigation, detectives secured an arrest warrant for Kennedy on Monday, February 8. Kennedy was picked up at his residence in Frankfort this morning and was taken into custody without incident.

Bond was set at $150,000, and Kennedy will appear in court on Thursday.