Former fire official pleads not guilty to child porn

A former deputy chief for the Newport Fire Protection District pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges he had images of child pornography on his home computer.

Joseph Hubbard, of the 4100 block of Russell Avenue in Gurnee, faces up to five years in prison if convicted in the case.

Lake County Assistant State's Attorney Mary Stanton said Hubbard, who resigned his position with the fire district when the investigation began in late September, came to the attention of authorities when a family member found the images on his computer.

The family member contacted Gurnee police, Stanton said, and the police obtained a search warrant for the computer.

After the images were discovered, Stanton said Hubbard said they had been e-mailed to him starting in September 2004.

Defense attorney Jed Stone of Waukegan said Hubbard has already entered a treatment program for consumers of child pornography.

Associate Judge Daniel Shanes scheduled a trial of the case for March 8 and ordered Hubbard, who is free on a signature bond, to appear in court again Feb. 9.