Park board member resigns after porn charges

The man charged Wednesday with buying child pornography over the Internet has resigned as vice president of the Bartlett park board.

Charles Rowe submitted his resignation via e-mail Thursday morning to the park district's executive director, said board President Ted Lewis.

"I feel so badly for his family. I just can't imagine what they might be going through at this time," Lewis said.

Rowe, 61, was arrested around 1 p.m. Wednesday at his home on the 1300 block of Filly Lane. He was charged with two felony counts of child pornography and was released from DuPage County Jail Wednesday after posting $10,000.

In 2007, voters elected Rowe to a second six-year term. First elected in 2001, Rowe has lived in Bartlett almost three decades. He defeated former Board President Dale Dwyer for one of two open board seats.

Lewis said Thursday night that he was in complete shock over Rowe's arrest. Nothing during his career on the park board suggested the alleged behavior, Lewis said.

"He was an extremely hardworking gentleman," Lewis said. "He was always prepared and interested in the community."

Lewis added Rowe would likely have been named board president the next time commissioners decided to rotate the post.

Rowe was active in coaching youth soccer for years and in 2001 told the Daily Herald he was most interested in increasing youth programming in the park district.

Lewis pointed out that all park district employees are required to go through background checks to protect the safety of the many children they serve. Rowe also went through the screening.

"There was no record of anything," Lewis said.

Rowe is divorced and has two daughters, Lewis said. He worked for an insurance carrier for many years.

Immigrations and Customs Enforcement and Bartlett police confiscated Rowe's computers in July from his home after getting a search warrant, police said. Authorities began investigating Rowe in September 2007, police added.

The park district will discuss the resignation at its Tuesday, Dec. 16, meeting. Lewis said the board will try to finish paperwork quickly so voters can select a replacement in the April election. Lewis isn't sure if the paperwork can be finished by the deadline to place candidates on the ballot.

When reached Thursday via phone, Rowe declined to comment.