Authorities: Man living in home with day care had child sexual abuse materials

A Grayslake man who lives in a home where a family member runs a day care is accused of having hundreds of sexually explicit photos and videos of children, authorities said.

Jose Real, 52, of the 1200 block of Chesterfield Lane, faces three felony counts of possession of child pornography of children under 13. A Lake County judge Thursday ordered Real held in jail pending a detention hearing Friday.

According to Lake County sheriff’s Deputy Chief Chris Covelli, an investigation began when detectives learned videos containing child sexual abuse materials were being downloaded and shared from the home on Chesterfield Lane.

On July 19, just as detectives were about to search the home, Real appeared to hide his cellphone in a potted plant, Covelli said.

The phone was seized and a forensic exam revealed what appeared to be more than 1,000 child sexual abuse videos and photos, some with children as young as infants, according to Covelli.

Real was taken into custody Tuesday, and more charges are likely, Covelli added.

Authorities learned Real’s family member runs a day care out of the same home, Covelli said. They are investigating whether any of the recovered images are linked to children there, he added.

The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services has been alerted; the day care is not allowed to operate while the investigation is underway.

Authorities are asking parents to speak to their children about inappropriate touching and grooming behavior and to contact local law enforcement if they believe their child may have been victimized.