Police say they have arrested a Lake in the Hills man who was found in possession of numerous videos of sexual abuse material involving children, with a judge releasing him pending trial.
The Lake in the Hills Police Department announced Wednesday that they arrested a suspect on June 15 at his home without incident in connection with child sexual abuse material.
The police department began an investigation after receiving several Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) tip notifications.
Police investigated the tips, which involved the possession of the explicit material, and identified the suspect as Damon R. Lerch, 41, of Lake in the Hills, according to Lake in the Hills Police Department Communications Coordinator Blaine Krage.
Investigators made contact with Lerch at his home in the 100 block of Northlight Passe in Lake in the Hills and took him into custody around 3:25 p.m. on June 15.
Lerch was later transferred to the McHenry County Jail and charged with nine counts of possession of child sexual abuse material, a Class 2 felony.
A criminal complaint filed in McHenry County Circuit Court alleges Lerch possessed nine different videos, some as long as 24 minutes.
Lerch appeared in Initial Appearance Court where the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to detain him pending trial.
McHenry County Judge Michael Feetterer denied the petition and released Lerch on pre-trial conditions.
The judge ordered Lerch not to approach or communicate with anyone under 21 and not be within 1,000 feet of any school.
Lerch was also placed on home confinement with a GPS monitor and ordered not to possess any electronic device capable of internet connection, court document said.
Lerch was additionally ordered not to consume alcohol and submit to random screens at the direction of pre-trial services.
The Office of Statewide Pretrial Services is allowed to search Lerch’s house to ensure his compliance.