A registered sexual predator living in Island Lake was arrested during a search warrant on Thursday after investigators found he was in possession of sexually explicit images of children.
The Island Lake Police Department initiated an investigation after receiving a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) on October 25.
Island Lake Acting Police Chief James Gainer said the NCMEC reported that child pornography was being shared from an electronic device located at a home in the 3400 block of Highland Drive in Island Lake.
Detectives learned the device was located at the home where a registered sex offender resides.
Robert E. Thornton, 57, was identified as the suspect and detectives obtained a search warrant for his residence at 3405 Highland Drive, Gainer said.
State records show Thornton is required to register for his entire life as a child sexual offender.
The requirement comes following a conviction in Kendall County for indecent solicitation of a child and possession of child pornography. The victim involved was 14 and Thornton was 38 at the time.
The Illinois Attorney General’s Office, Wauconda Police Department and Island Lake Police Department carried out the search warrant on Thursday.
Gainer said Electronic Detection Canine Grip from the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office assisted in the search for electronics that were storing the explicit material.
Investigators seized cell phones, a computer and tablets belonging to Thornton.
Thornton possessed several images and videos of child sexual abuse material on the devices, Gainer said.
The McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office reviewed the case and approved three counts of possession of child sexual abuse material, a Class 2 felony, and one count of violation of sex offender registration, a Class 3 felony.
A criminal complaint filed in McHenry County Circuit Court alleges Thornton also violated his sex offender registry requirements by failing to disclose an email address, which was created in 2013, and a Snapchat account, which was created in 2016, to police.
Thornton was arrested by detectives and transported to the McHenry County Jail where he remains held.
The state’s attorney’s office filed a petition to detain him pending trial and Thornton appeared in Initial Appearance Court on Friday where he requested a court interpreter and was appointed a public defender.
A detention hearing was continued to Monday morning at the request of his defense attorney, court records show.