Geneva man facing child porn charges

A judge set bail at $150,000 Wednesday for a Geneva man accused of possession of child pornography.

Gary J. Reschke, 56, of the 3100 block of Larrabee Drive, was been charged with 12 counts of aggravated child pornography and three counts of possession of child pornography, police said.

He was arrested Monday morning after authorities executed a search warrant at his home. He must put up $15,000 in order to be free pending trial.

Judge James Hallock read a synopsis of the case against Reschke, who also serves as assistant director for community development for the village of Addison.

Hallock said authorities found 15 videos and pictures on Reschke's computer hard drive in the search of the home, which Reschke has lived in by himself since 2003. Assistant state's attorney Gail Zwemke said Reschke did not have any prior criminal history, and recommended that if released pending trial, that Reschke have no unsupervised contact with minors nor access to a computer.

Defense attorney Thomas Breen pushed for a bail lower than the $150,000 set by Hallock.

Breen said his client had worked in Addison for more than 10 years, had more than $150,000 equity in his home and was not a flight risk.

“Mr. Reschke is a very stable individual,” Breen said.

Doree Krage, Addison's assistant communications director, said Reschke has been placed on paid administrative leave from his $101,275-a-year post. Krage said village officials conducted their own investigation and found no evidence that Reschke used village computers improperly.

Reschke is due in court again July 12. If convicted he faces up to seven years in prison, but probation also is an option.