Batavia man facing 14 child porn charges

A 63-year-old Batavia man faces child pornography charges after authorities searched his home Thursday and seized computers and hundreds of DVDs and CDs, police said today.

Danny L. Clifford, of the 400 block of Park Street, appeared in Kane County bond court Friday where Judge James Hallock set bail at $150,000, meaning Clifford must pay $15,000 cash to be released pending trial.

He faces 14 counts of aggravated child pornography, police said.

Under a law that went into effect in August, defendants charged and convicted of multiple counts of aggravated child pornography could face consecutive sentences.

This means a judge could, theoretically, give Clifford a 42- to 98-year sentence if the case went to trial and Clifford was convicted on all counts.

He does not have a previous criminal record in Kane County, according to court records. Clifford is due in court again Oct. 27.

Batavia and Geneva police searched Clifford's home at about 6 a.m. Thursday and seized computers and discs, police said.

The search warrant was issued based on information through the Illinois Internet Crimes Against Children Unit of the state attorney general's office.