Buffalo Grove man charged with disseminating child porn

A youth group leader from Buffalo Grove faces child pornography charges in Lake County, authorities announced Friday.

Harry O. Jones, 44, of the 1300 block of Green Knolls Drive, is charged with three counts of disseminating child pornography.

He was arrested Thursday near his home. He is being held in the Lake County jail on $250,000 bail.

Evidence seized from his home and office included multiple devices capable of storing electronic media, police said.

Jones was an active member and leader of several youth organizations, including a suburban Mormon church youth group and a Boy Scouts group, Lake County Undersheriff Raymond J. Rose said. Rose didn't elaborate.

Authorities used two search warrants to enter his home and his office in Lake Forest in search of evidence, police said.

As a result of the investigation by officials with the Lake County sheriff's office cybercrimes unit and the Lake County state's attorney's cybercrimes unit, an examination of the media devices revealed an extensive amount of images and videos identified as child pornography, according to police. It was also determined Jones distributed several photographs containing child pornography, depicting children under the age of 13, according to police.

Each count of disseminating child pornography is a felony that carries a prison sentence of six to 30 years upon conviction.

Jones also was charged with seven counts of possession of child pornography.

Based on the extensive amount of child pornography on the seized electronic media, more investigation will be done to determine if additional charges will be sought.

Jones' next court date is March 3.

Anyone with information about the investigation is asked to call sheriff's Detective Christopher Covelli at (847) 377-4145.

• Daily Herald staff writer Mick Zawislak contributed to this report.