Lincolnshire porn case ends with guilty plea

A Northbrook woman was placed on probation for two years Tuesday after she admitted taking lewd photographs of a 14-year-old girl.

Paula Ferdkoff, 20, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor attempted indecent solicitation of a child during a hearing before Lake County Circuit Judge John Phillips.

Lincolnshire police arrested Ferdkoff in February after being alerted to a dispute between her and the girl's mother by Glenview police.

Assistant State's Attorney Mary Stanton said Ferdkoff was acquainted with the girl's family and told them she was an aspiring photographer.

On July 12, Ferdkoff took the girl to a photo studio in Lincolnshire where she took photographs of the girl in sexual situations.

The girl's mother found some of the photos on the girl's computer and called Ferdkoff to complain.

The verbal battle that ensued prompted Ferdkoff to call police in Glenview, where the girl and her mother live, in an attempt to file a harassment complaint against the mother.

However, in explaining the situation to Glenview police, Ferdkoff gave them enough details that officials there seized her computers and called Lincolnshire.

Stanton said lewd photographs of the girl were found on the computer and in Ferdkoff's car during the Lincolnshire police investigation.

Ferdkoff was originally charged with child pornography, but Stanton agreed to reduce the charge in exchange for the guilty plea.

Phillips ordered Ferdkoff to pay a total of $3,489 in fines and costs, perform 200 hours of community service and to obtain a psychological evaluation and all necessary treatment while on probation.

He also said Ferdkoff could not have unsupervised contact with anyone under the age of 18 outside of family members, and was barred from using the Internet except for work or school for the next two years.

Ferdkoff will be required to register as a sex offender for the next 10 years as a result of her conviction.