Round Lake man, 63, accused of manufacturing child pornography

A Round Lake man has been arrested and charged with manufacturing child pornography, Lake County officials said Friday.

James R. Weeden, 63, of the 200 block of Switchgrass Drive in Round Lake, was charged with five counts of manufacturing child pornography and five counts of possession of child pornography, Lake County sheriff's officials said in a news release.

Weeden's bail was set at $1 million. He is scheduled to appear in court Dec. 23.

His arrest stemmed from a child pornography investigation by the Lake County sheriff's office cybercrimes unit with assistance from cyber investigators of the Lake County state's attorney's office.

Weeden was arrested at his home Thursday. A search warrant was issued and evidence that was seized included multiple electronic devices capable of storing electronic media, the release said.

A forensic examination of the devices revealed thousands of images and videos identified as child pornography, the release said. During the investigation, officials determined Weeden took nude photographs of a child under 13 years of age while the child was visiting his home, the release said.

Anyone with information on Weeden that would be relevant to the investigation is asked to call detective Christopher Covelli of the cybercrimes unit at (847) 377-4145.