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Des Plaines pedophile sentenced to 50 years in prison

A Des Plaines man convicted of molesting 11 children of friends, relatives and co-workers was sentenced Tuesday to 50 years in prison.

Bobby Cruz, 34, photographed himself abusing the children ages 2 to 11, in places ranging from a friend's home to a pumpkin patch and Great America.

In one case, according to the Chicago Sun Times, Cruz molested a friend's young boy during a busy house party. In another, he removed a 2-year-old's diaper before sexually abusing him.

The Sun Times reported more than a dozen victims and relatives of Cruz's victims watched Cruz's sentencing and eight testified during Tuesday's hearing.

Cruz was charged with producing, possessing and transporting child pornography at various times between 2007 and 2011. He was also accused of crossing state lines to "engage in a sexual act with a minor under 12" in 2010.

When Cruz was arrested Nov. 1, 2011, at his home on the 400 block of West Touhy Avenue following a two-month investigation, authorities confiscated several cameras, a laptop computer and a number of external hard drives. Nearly 100 images depicting child pornography were emailed to an undercover investigator from Cruz's computer, court records show.

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