Former fire official gets probation for porn possession

A former deputy chief for the Newport Fire Protection District was placed on 30 months' probation Friday after pleading guilty to possession of child pornography.

Lake County Circuit Judge John Phillips also fined Joseph Hubbard $1,200 and ordered him not to use the Internet except for employment purposes.

Hubbard, 53, of the 4100 block of Russell Avenue, Gurnee, resigned his position with the fire district when the investigation of him began in late September.

Assistant State's Attorney Mary Stanton said a member of Hubbard's family found images of child pornography on his computer and called police.

Hubbard, who defense attorney Jed Stone of Waukegan said had been a firefighter for 32 years, entered a treatment program shortly after his arrest in October.

Hubbard told investigators from the state's attorneys office the images found on his computers were e-mailed to him starting in 2004.

Phillips told Hubbard he must successfully complete the treatment program he is in while on probation and that he will have to surrender the two computers and two external hard drives where the images were stored to police.