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More charges in child porn case against Mount Prospect man

A second teenage girl has come forward in the child pornography case against Ron Godby, a former Northwestern University police detective and unofficial photographer for many Prospect High School teams.

Godby, 53, who was out on bond on the previous charges, now faces new charges of manufacturing child pornography and possession of child pornography. The additional bond was set Tuesday at $175,000.

Prosecutors said Godby, of Mount Prospect, was taking portrait photos of a 17-year-old at Busse Woods in July 2015 when he encouraged her to go to a private area and remove her underwear. He then took explicit photos, prosecutors said.

He'd taken photos of her for the past three years, including some in which she was scantily clad, said Cook County Assistant State's Attorney Maria McCarthy.

Godby's attorney, Ernie DiBenedetto, disputed the charges.

"A lot of what was said in court today is going to be proved to be untrue," he said after the hearing.

Godby has taken thousands of individual portrait and team photos for local students, including Prospect choirs, drama groups, dancers and cheerleaders. While he was never hired by Prospect to take photos, Godby received a 2013 Distinguished Service Award for his photography work from Northwest Suburban High School District 214.

Pornographic images were found on Godby's computer in his office at the Northwestern University Police Department, McCarthy said.

In the other case, Godby is facing four counts of child pornography, two counts of traveling to meet a minor and one count each of grooming and distribution of harmful materials. That case involves a different girl, whom Godby had known since she was 6 years old.

Prosecutors say Godby used a portrait session to take explicit photos when she was 13 and 17, and later sent her a Snapchat photo of his genitalia.

Following that arrest, Prospect Principal Michelle Dowling emailed a letter to parents about Godby's involvement with the school.

"The parent runs a part-time photography business that many within our community have used, and he has donated his time for several years taking photos at various events and practices at high schools throughout the district, including Prospect," Dowling wrote. "He has been instructed by the district to remove all photos that reflect District 214 students, events and activities on his photography business website."

If convicted on all charges, Godby could be facing more than 20 years in prison.

McCarthy called Godby "a textbook groomer."

Since his arrest Feb. 1, DiBenedetto said Godby was fired from his job at Northwestern and is now working in a factory. He has been following all of the conditions of his bond, including not having a cellphone, not using the Internet and not making contact with the girls or their families.

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