West Chicago man nabbed in child-porn sting

A West Chicago man identified as an employee of the 18th Judicial Court of DuPage County was nabbed in an FBI child-pornography sting Friday.

Neal Maschke, of O North 248 Easton Ave., West Chicago, was charged in federal court Monday with knowingly possessing child pornography, a felony. He faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

The 40-year-old Maschke was caught Friday at an alleged child-pornography swap meet involving a cooperating witness and FBI undercover agents at a Skokie hotel, where according to the FBI complaint, he brought portable computer drives containing images and video of child pornography and identified himself as a clerk in the circuit court clerk's office of DuPage County.

He was one of four men -- two from out of state and a third from Crest Hill -- charged in the case in federal court Monday.

Authorities in DuPage Circuit Clerk Chris Kachiroubas' office declined to comment officially but do not believe any county computers were used for illegal purposes.