Ex-state trooper pleads guilty to child porn

A retired Illinois State Police trooper pleaded guilty Tuesday to downloading child pornography to his state-issued laptop and viewing it in his squad car when he was on duty and bored.

Juan Rodriguez, 51, of Glen Ellyn, admitted to one count each of child pornography and official misconduct in exchange for a term of 30 months’ probation and 60 days in jail. The 27-year police veteran also must register as a sex offender for life.

Rodriguez came under investigation in April 2003 after agents from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement linked his credit card to a child pornography website. In 2008, he paid $99 to join a second website created by the agents as part of the probe, said Assistant DuPage County State’s Attorney Helen Kapas.

Kapas said Rodriguez admitted viewing child pornography two to three times a year for about six years. She said he told investigators he was not sexually aroused by children, but viewed the images in his squad car on overtime shifts because he was bored and curious. Eventually, she said, he became obsessed.

“He told the agents his interest in child pornography started when he read a newspaper article about child pornography arrests and he wanted to see what the big deal was,” Kapas said. “He stated that his obsession with the material … overcame him, and he was never worried about getting caught.”

Rodriguez left court without comment.

Defense attorney Brian Telander said his client retired in March 2010 from Illinois State Police District 15, which covers state tollways, after 27 years in law enforcement.

He described Rodriguez as a “well-liked” officer who’s won professional awards and served in the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps.

“I think the state’s very reasonable offer took into account his 27 years of dedicated service,” Telander said of the plea agreement.

In addition to probation and jail, Rodriguez is expected to lose his public pension and also must pay more than $2,000 in fines and court costs.

Judge George Bakalis deferred sentencing to a later date while awaiting results of a procedural sex offender evaluation.

Rodriguez could have faced up to seven years in prison if convicted at trial. He had no prior criminal history.