Police: Elgin man had child porn

An Elgin man has been arrested for looking at child pornography on his girlfriend's computer, police said Friday.

Anthony Bielarz, 23, of the 500 block of Hawkins Street, has been charged with seven counts of child pornography.

Authorities said Bielarz was previously arrested in January for having sexual contact with a 19-year-old woman who was unable to give consent. According to bond call accounts.

Acting on a tip in June, the police department's new computer forensics unit examined the machine and found seven images of children engaged in sex acts, Elgin Police Lt. Glenn Theriault said.

Bielarz was arrested at his home Thursday and later told police he stumbled on the photos by mistake, Kane County Judge Bruce W. Lester said Friday while reading a synopsis of the case.

Bielarz was out on bond for the criminal sexual assault case that's still pending in Kane County.

Bielarz was released from jail on that charge after posting $1,000.

On Friday, Lester set Bielarz's bail at $75,000 in the child porn case.

He is due in court on the charges in Aug. 19.

Child pornography is a Class 3 felony with a prison sentence ranging between two and five years.

Because Bielarz was arrested while he was free on bond, the state may argue to revoke his bond in the criminal sexual assault case, prosecutors said.

He has pleaded not guilty in that case, which will be in court Sept. 1, prosecutors said.

Both cases will be heard at the Kane County Judicial Center.