A Barrington man is in custody on numerous felony charges after sheriff’s officials say he disseminated and possessed sexually explicit images and videos of children.
The Cook County Sheriff’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children Unit (ICAC) recently received a tip that prompted the investigation of Anthony Demonte, 49, of Barrington.
ICAC investigators received the tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), according to the sheriff’s office.
The NCMEC reported that videos and images of child pornography were uploaded and shared through a social media account linked to Demonte.
Search warrants were executed for Demonte’s social media account.
Investigators found the account contained multiple files of sexually explicit videos of children under the age of 13, the sheriff’s office said.
Demonte was taken into custody at his home on Wednesday and transported to sheriff’s headquarters in Maywood.
ICAC investigators along with electronics detection canine Boone searched Demonte’s residence.
They recovered a cell phone and other electronic devices, the sheriff’s office said.
Demonte admitted to investigators that the seized cell phone belonged to him.
A preliminary forensic analysis of the cell phone revealed multiple videos of children under the age of 13 being sexually assaulted.
The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office on Thursday approved charges of dissemination of child pornography, a Class X felony, and possession of child pornography, a Class 2 felony.
Demonte appeared for a bond hearing Friday at the Rolling Meadows Courthouse and a judge ordered him held on a $250,000 bond.
The judge ordered Demonte to be placed on electronic monitoring if he posts bond.
The Cook County Sheriff’s Office said their ICAC Unit has obtained charges against 37 individuals for cases involving the victimization of children and child pornography since 2020.