Bond lowered for child pornography suspect

A judge agreed to lower bond Thursday for a Johnsburg area man accused of possessing and sharing child pornography online, but only after giving him a harsh warning of what would come if he was caught doing it again.

Steven J. Tipman went free after Judge Joseph Condon halved his $50,000 bail to $25,000, allowing the 20-year-old to post $2,500 cash and get out of jail while awaiting trial.

The decision came after a hearing in which Tipman testified he's been seeking counseling since authorities seized his computer about three months ago.

"They found you once and if you do it again, they will find you again," Condon told Tipman near the end of the hearing. "Modify your behavior."

Tipman, of the 4900 block of Pistakee Drive, was arrested June 17 after a nine-month investigation into claims he made images of children in sexual situations available over an online file-sharing service. An investigator was able to download two images from Tipman, McHenry County Sheriff's police said.

He faces two counts of child pornography and six counts of possession of child pornography, all felonies.

County prosecutors objected to a lower bond, saying the images found in his possession indicate he could be a threat to children.

Condon, however, noted that Tipman has no prior criminal record or history of violence.

Tipman said he would move in with his mother if released. He said he could no longer live with his father because of the embarrassment his arrest had caused family members.

Tipman is scheduled to return to court July 15 for a likely arraignment on the charges, which carry a maximum sentence of four to 15 years in prison, but also are probationable.