Kane judge named to child porn case

The child pornography case against former Green Oaks Mayor Thomas Adams took a step toward getting back on track Monday with the appointment of a Kane County judge to hear the matter.

Lake County judges were forced to step aside from the case last month after Lake County Board member Bob Sajonjian left a voicemail detailing his opinions on the matter for the local judge who had been presiding.

Chief Circuit Judge Christopher Starck told the lawyers in the case Monday that state court administrators had appointed Judge Philip DiMarzio of St. Charles to take over the matter.

DiMarzio is a former chief judge of the 16th Judicial Circuit and is currently assigned to hear felony and misdemeanor cases in Kane County.

Starck told the lawyers in the Adams case they should expect to have their first meeting with DiMarzio to set up a schedule for the case on Sept. 17.

Adams, 69, was arrested in July 2006 after police say they traced child pornography that was sent to an undercover police officer to a computer in Adams' home at 885 Anderson Drive.

An examination of his computer uncovered multiple images of children in lewd poses, police said.

Adams is charged with distribution and possession of child pornography and faces a mandatory prison sentence of at least four years if convicted of distribution.

He was Green Oaks mayor from 1993 until his resignation shortly after his arrest.

Adams also served as a village trustee for 12 years prior to being elected mayor and was the chairman of the county's Republican Party from 2002 until 2004.

Lake County Circuit Judge Victoria Rossetti removed herself from the Adams case in the wake of Sabonjian's call, saying she wanted to eliminate any question her decisions had been affected by outside influence.

Starck then asked the Administrative Office of Illinois Courts to assign a judge from outside the county for similar reasons.