Firefighter denies possessing pornography

A Waukegan firefighter pleaded not guilty Wednesday in Lake County Circuit Court to possession of child pornography.

Nathan Clark, 36, faces up to five years in prison if convicted of any of the 45 counts filed against him in the indictment.

Assistant State's Attorney Mary Stanton said Clark, of the 1700 block of White Fence Lane in unincorporated Libertyville, was charged Sept. 2 and placed on administrative leave from the department.

Stanton said police in Franklin, Tenn. were contacted by the owners of a house Clark had previously owned after they found a box of DVDs in the attic containing child pornography.

Police there also found a connection between Clark's computers and some visits to Internet Web sites under surveillance because of suspicion they distribute child pornography.

Tennessee authorities contacted Lake County officials, who went to Clark's house and seized computer equipment including a laptop, tower and independent hard drive.

Stanton said investigators discovered more than 500 images of child pornography in the equipment.

Clark's lawyer, Steven McCollum of Waukegan, has said authorities have no evidence Clark ever viewed any images of child pornography.

Circuit Judge Victoria Rossetti scheduled a trial of the case for Jan. 4 and ordered Clark to appear in court Nov. 16.