Two Illinois Men Face Multiple Child Pornography Charges

Two Illinois men have been arrested on multiple counts of possessing child pornography, according to the office of Attorney General Lisa Madigan.

As part of "Operation Glass House,' an initiative by the Attorney General's office to apprehend offenders who download and trade child pornography online, two search warrants were executed in Northern Illinois, leading to the arrests.

“Child pornography is not a victimless crime,” Madigan said. “Every file posted online depicts a child, sometimes just months old, being sexually abused. This crime destroys the lives of these innocent victims and is only further perpetuated when it spreads online.”

48-year-old Edward Marshall of Spring Grove is charged with three counts of possession of child pornography, which is punishable by two to five years in prison. Marshall was arrested at his home after a search warrant was conducted by Madigan's office and the McHenry County Sheriff's Office. Bond was set at $3,000.

32-year-old Justin White of Round Lake Beach was arrested at his home on Tuesday, following execution of a search warrant by  Round Lake Beach Police and investigators with the Attorney General's office. White has been charged with two counts of reproduction of child pornography, two counts of possession of child pornography, and two counts of violation of the Firearms Owner Identification Card Act. White's bond was set at $250,000.

The arrests of Marshall and White represent the 63rd and 64th arrests of "Operation Glass House," which was launched in 2010. Madigan's office says that the investigation has revealed a disturbing community of criminals who trade and view extremely violent videos of children, some as young as infants, being raped and abused.

“We need to remain vigilant and continue to work together in our ongoing effort to protect our children,” said McHenry County Sheriff Keith Nygren.

“The type of investigations pursued by the Attorney General’s Office is of a very technical nature and not one that our department could easily undertake,” said Round Lake Beach Police Chief Dave Hare. “The Attorney General’s office has completed several investigations in Round Lake Beach over the last few years and they have all been completed in a very professional manner.”