Jose Real, 52, of Grayslake.

Officials say a man who was residing at a home in Grayslake where an in-house daycare was being operated was caught possessing over 1,000 videos and photos of child pornography.

Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli said sheriff’s detectives conducted an investigation after learning videos containing child pornography were being downloaded and shared from a residence in the 1200 block of Chesterfield Lane in Grayslake.

Detectives applied for and obtained a search warrant for the home.

Detectives conducted the search warrant at the residence on July 19.

Just prior to detectives entering the home, one of the people living at the home, 52-year-old Jose Real, appeared to hide his cell phone in a potted plant, Covelli said.

Sheriff’s detectives were able to quickly find the hidden phone, which they seized.

Detectives conducted a forensic examination of the phone, which required bypassing the phone’s passcode.

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Covelli said over 1,000 videos and images of child pornography, some of which involved children as young as infants, were located on the phone.

“Based on the evidence, they determined Real was responsible for downloading and sharing the child pornography videos,” Covelli said.

Detectives obtained an arrest warrant on Tuesday for Real for three counts of possession of child pornography, Class 2 felonies.

Real was arrested by sheriff’s deputies on Wednesday without incident.

Detectives learned during the investigation that Real’s family member runs a daycare out of the same home he lives in.

Covelli said sheriff’s detectives are actively investigating to determine if any of the recovered child pornography is linked to the children who were being supervised at the home.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office asked the community to speak to their children about inappropriate touching and grooming. “If you feel your child has been victimized, please contact your local law enforcement agency.”

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The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to detain Real in custody while awaiting trial.

Lake County Judge Theodore Potkonjak ordered Real to be held in the Lake County Jail until a detention hearing, which he scheduled for Friday afternoon.

“I cannot stress it enough; we will relentlessly investigate and arrest those who prey on our most vulnerable. Our Criminal Investigations Division continues to proactively investigate those who hide in the shadows of the internet and exploit our children,” Lake County Sheriff John Idleburg said.

The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) was alerted to the situation and the daycare is no longer allowed to operate while the investigation is underway. Additional charges are likely.