A Highwood man accused of possessing child sexual abuse material involving children as young as eight allegedly smashed his cellphone as a sheriff’s SWAT team and detectives arrived at his apartment Thursday.
Jake H. Leverick, 32, of Highwood, was charged with five counts of possession of child sexual abuse material, all Class 2 felonies.
A Lake County Sheriff’s Office detective received a cybertip from Google on June 8 reporting that a user had uploaded 45 files of child sexual abuse material, including eight videos and 37 images.
Sheriff’s cybercrime detectives began investigating after learning the images and videos, which involved children under the age of 13, were being shared from an electronic device in Highwood, Lake County Sheriff’s Office Chief Christopher Covelli said.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Mary Stanton said one of the videos showed a girl under the age of 13 being sexually assaulted.
Stanton said Google’s records show the files were uploaded between May 2 and June 5.
The tip was first sent to a Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office investigator who obtained a search warrant on July 21 for Comcast subscriber information tied to the IP address used for the uploads, Stanton said.
Comcast records showed the IP address was registered to an account at a second-floor apartment in the 100 block of High Street in Highwood.
The sheriff’s detective obtained a search warrant for Google on August 12 and the records returned included the files from the tip along with additional videos and images of child sexual abuse material, Stanton said.
The detective obtained a search warrant for the High Street apartment on September 30.
A sheriff’s SWAT team and detectives, the Illinois Attorney General’s Office and the Highwood Police Department carried out the warrant on Thursday, Covelli said.
The detective knew from Google’s records that the phone used to upload the files was a Motorola Moto G and learned that Leverick lives with his father and brother, who both have iPhones, Stanton said.
A sheriff’s sergeant spoke with Leverick, who denied having any cellphone, Stanton said.
A Motorola Moto G with a smashed screen was then found under a pile of clothes in Leverick’s bedroom, Stanton said.
Leverick’s father told police his son had a cellphone and was on it all the time, Stanton said.
Stanton said investigators believe Leverick smashed the phone when law enforcement arrived at the home.
A MacBook found in Leverick’s bedroom also does not work but it is not clear whether he damaged it, Stanton said.
The detective was still able to read the serial number on the phone and it matched the serial number Google provided in its records for the account that uploaded the files.
Google’s records also linked the account to a second account with an email address bearing Leverick’s name, Stanton said.
Sheriff’s detectives seized electronics belonging to Leverick and found he possessed child sexual abuse material involving children as young as approximately 8 years old, Covelli said.
A digital forensic examiner with the Illinois Attorney General’s Office was unable to conduct forensics on the phone or the MacBook, Stanton said.
Stanton said arrangements have been made to repair the phone and a forensic exam is expected next week.
Leverick declined to make a statement to police but spontaneously said “I just want you to know that I’m not a monster” when the detective explained to him that he was going to be charged, Stanton said.
Stanton said Leverick is unemployed and does not live with any minor children.
Leverick was taken into custody and the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office approved the five charges after reviewing the facts and circumstances of the case, Covelli said.
Leverick appeared in custody for a First Appearance Court hearing on Friday morning and the state’s attorney’s office filed a petition to detain him pending trial, arguing his release would pose a threat to the safety of the community.
Lake County Judge Patricia L. Cornell found probable cause for the charges, appointed the Lake County Public Defender’s Office to represent Leverick and ordered him held until a detention hearing.
“Defendant has established an ability, intent, and mode of obtaining this material and avoiding detection. It appears that Defendant is willing to destroy evidence to avoid detection,” Stanton said.
Stanton said no technology can confine Leverick to his home and restrict his internet access with certainty and that he could easily buy a “drop phone” at any big box retail store.
“Short of physically placing Defendant in a 24-7 ‘Faraday’ bag to restrict internet access, there is no place on the planet one could ensure he is not consuming child pornography,” Stanton said.
“Our Internet Crimes Against Children Detectives work every day to identify those who use technology to exploit children, and this investigation is another example of that commitment,” Lake County Sheriff John Idleburg said.
“These cases require specialized investigative skills and strong partnerships, and I commend our detectives and law enforcement partners for their work in identifying this offender and protecting vulnerable children,” Idleburg said.
“We will continue pursuing those who possess and distribute this material and working to hold them accountable,” Idleburg added.
Leverick was scheduled to appear for a detention hearing on Friday afternoon.