Probation for Round Lake Beach man accused of child porn

A Round Lake Beach man was placed on probation for 30 months Friday after admitting he possessed at least seven images of child pornography on his computer.

Lake County Associate Judge Theodore Potkonjak also ordered John Paul Maczko, 27, to perform 200 hours of public service and to pay a $1,000 fine.

Assistant State's Attorney Mary Stanton said local officials were informed by the FBI that Maczko had downloaded pornography from a pair of Internet sites they were monitoring as part of an investigation.

Investigators took a search warrant to Maczko's residence in the 2100 block of Stonehedge Court on April 7, Stanton said. They seized three laptop computers, two computer towers and a portable hard drive, all of which contained some child pornography.

Maczko told police he had downloaded 100 to 1,000 similar images from the site in the weeks leading up to the raid.

He pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography and could have faced up to five years in prison if convicted after a trial.

Potkonjak told Maczko he must surrender all the computer equipment taken from his home to police, and register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.