A SWAT team arrested a 32-year-old man during a warrant carried out at his home in Waukegan Wednesday where investigators found him possessing thousands of files of child sexual abuse. Francisco Ruiz, 32, of Waukegan, was charged with two counts of dissemination of child abuse material, a Class X felony, and eight counts of possessing […]
Tag: sex crime
Posted inLocal News
22 years in prison for 1 of 2 suspects who pleaded guilty to sex trafficking, abusing child in Lake County
A Wonder Lake man has been sentenced to 22 years in prison after he and a woman sex trafficked a 15-year-old girl in Lake County, prompting a multi-year sheriff’s investigation. The Lake County Sheriff’s Special Investigations Group in July 2019 said they were conducting a long-term investigation into the sex trafficking of a 15-year-old girl […]
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‘Extremely disturbing’: Investigators arrest Lake Villa man for possessing videos of violent child sexual abuse
Detectives have arrested a Lake Villa man who was found with dozens of images and videos of violent child sexual abuse, which a judge called “extremely disturbing.” Lake County Sheriff’s Office Cybercrime Detectives initiated an investigation after they became aware of explicit material involving children being shared from an electronic device in unincorporated Lake Villa. […]
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School board set to fire longtime Libertyville middle school teacher charged with recording students, creating sexually explicit images
A school board is set to terminate a longtime Libertyville middle school teacher, who is a father, after prosecutors say he recorded students and used AI to create child sexual abuse material. A special Board of Education meeting for Libertyville School District #70 has been announced for 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Education Resource Center […]
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Probation for man who pleaded guilty to trying to lure child to sit on his lap outside bar in Woodstock
A 57-year-old man has been sentenced to probation after he pleaded guilty to trying to lure a young girl riding her bicycle to sit on his lap and kiss him while he was on the Woodstock Square. John R. Luna, 57, of Woodstock, was charged in August 2025 with grooming, a Class 4 felony, and […]
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Investigators arrest Wadsworth man for allegedly downloading nearly 200K files of child sexual abuse material
Investigators have arrested a 74-year-old man after raiding his home in Wadsworth and discovering he allegedly downloaded nearly 200,000 files of child sexual abuse material, including some involving toddlers. Steven C. Kazmer, 74, of Wadsworth, was charged with eight counts of dissemination of child sexual abuse material, a Class X felony. The Lake County State’s […]
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‘Children’s worst nightmare’: Prosecutors say Libertyville teacher recorded numerous students, used AI to create child sex abuse
A judge called it “children’s worst nightmare” and ordered a longtime Libertyville middle school teacher, who is a father, held awaiting trial after prosecutors say he recorded students and used AI to create child sexual abuse material. Marshall Sheffer, 44, of Libertyville, was charged with eight counts of child sexual abuse material, two of which […]
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SWAT team breaches North Chicago home to arrest suspect with 1,000+ child sex abuse videos after mother laughs at officers
A SWAT team breached the front door of a North Chicago home to arrest a suspect allegedly possessing over 1,000 videos of child sexual abuse after his mother refused to let deputies inside and laughed at them during a search warrant attempt, the sheriff said. Members of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Internet Crimes Against […]
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Former Deerfield High School student charged with sexually assaulting 3 children while attending high school
A Libertyville man has been charged with sexually assaulting multiple children, including while he was a student at Deerfield High School, and prosecutors say a custodian found him with one of the victims in a school closet. Andrew S. Bentkover, 24, of Libertyville, was charged with aggravated criminal sexual assault of a child, two counts […]