Lombard man gets 6 months for child porn

A Lombard man described by prosecutors as “every parent’s worst nightmare” was sentenced Monday to probation and six months in jail for secretly video-recording preteen boys at public pools and possessing child pornography.

Nicholas J. Gregor, 31, of the 500 block of North Garfield Street, was arrested last April after an 11-year-old noticed a small camera protruding from under his arm as they stood side-by-side at urinals in the Norris Recreation Center in St. Charles during a swim meet. A subsequent investigation led to the discovery of more than 100 items of child pornography on Gregor’s computer. Police said they also found dozens of photos and videos from June 2007 depicting young boys in the locker room at the now-closed Moran Water Park in Lombard, as well as images of children in Gregor’s neighborhood.

Prosecutors also presented evidence indicating Gregor had live online chats with boys while posing as a blond girl.

Gregor, who faced up to five years in prison, pleaded guilty in January to unlawful video recording of a minor and child pornography possession.

In a brief statement to the court Monday, he apologized for “scaring people.”

“I know it’s hard to see, but I do have good things in me that I want to be able to do and show the rest of my life,” he told Judge George Bakalis.

The father of one boy who was recorded fought back tears as he testified about the guilt he feels over his son being victimized. “(Gregor) was right under our noses while abusing our son,” he said. “The feeling of a lurking predator has remained with me.”

Assistant State’s Attorney Demetri Demopoulos sought a maximum prison term for Gregor, saying the defendant has an “obsessive preoccupation with young boys” and only stopped recording them once he was caught.

“Essentially, your honor, he is every parent’s worst nightmare,” Demopoulos said.

But Bakalis said psychological treatment rather than prison was more likely to rehabilitate Gregor, who had no prior criminal history.

The judge sentenced him to 30 months of sex offender probation and 180 days in the county jail. Gregor also must register as a sex offender for life, pay a mandatory $1,000 fine, and avoid unsupervised contact with minors.

Gregor began serving his jail sentence Monday. He will be eligible for release in 90 days.