A judge denied pre-trial release to a Lake Zurich man who was caught “red-handed” watching child pornography when investigators conducted a warrant and found dozens of illegal images and videos.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office launched an investigation after receiving a tip that child pornography was being downloaded at a residence in the 0-100 block of Terrace Lane in Lake Zurich.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Dino Katris said a messaging app company detected that multiple child pornography files were uploaded.
Sheriffโs detectives obtained a search warrant for the home after receiving enough evidence in the case, according to Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli.
Detectives along with the Lake County Sheriffโs Tactical Response Team and Illinois Attorney Generalโs Cybercrime Unit conducted the search warrant at the residence Tuesday morning.
As investigators went into the home, they located Jared R. Honegger, 24, in his bedroom watching a child pornography video of a child under the age of 10, Covelli said.
Katris said officers seized multiple devices during the warrant.
Honegger was arrested and transported to the Lake County Sheriffโs Office Criminal Investigations Division.
Digital forensic examiners with the Illinois Attorney Generalโs Office conducted an analysis on Honeggerโs cellular phone.
Covelli said they located over 90 images and videos of child pornography, with many of the children being under the age of 13.
Katris said some of the children were as young as infants. Honegger admitted he disseminates child pornography on an online application, Katris said.
The Lake County Stateโs Attorneyโs Office approved five counts of possession of child pornography, a Class 2 felony, against Honegger.
The stateโs attorneyโs office filed a petition to detain Honegger in custody while he is awaiting trial. A detention hearing was held Thursday afternoon.
Katris argued the demand for child pornography by suspects like Honegger fuels the ongoing sexual assault on children.
“Every time these videos and images get viewed is another revictimization of young children in those videos and the psychological and emotional damage caused by the redistribution of these recordings,” Katris said. “It haunts these young children for the rest of their lives.”
Katris argued that pre-trial bond services does not have the ability to engage in 24-hour surveillance of Honeggerโs home and would not be able to ensure Honegger would not continue downloading and disseminating child pornography if he was released.
A public defender for Honegger asked for Honegger’s release and said his client has little criminal history.
Lake County Judge Ari Fisz granted prosecutors’ request to detain Honegger pending trial.
The judge said the police “literally walked in and caught him red-handed” watching the explicit material. Fisz said Honegger poses a threat to all children in the community.
Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart said his office is committed to protecting children in Lake County and that he commends the sheriffโs team and the attorney generalโs office for their investigation.
“This offender is now jailed indefinitely because of our new system that does not allow him to post cash and be released. Others charged with this exact same crime have been able to post cash in the past, and those days are over,” Rinehart said.
Lake County Sheriff John Idleburg said the members of the sheriffโs office will “always do everything in our power to protect our youth.”
“A group of detectives are concentrating their efforts on tracking down and apprehending predators who lurk in the shadows of the internet, waiting to prey on the most vulnerable. We appreciate the collaboration between the Attorney Generalโs Office, Stateโs Attorneyโs Office and our team of detectives,” Idleburg said.