Gurnee man pleads not guilty child porn posession charges
A 76-year-old Gurnee man pleaded not guilty in Lake County court Thursday to charges he possessed child pornography.
Judge George Strickland said Ronald J. Wendt, of the 4100 block of Stoney Island, could be sentenced to 3 to 7 years in prison if found guilty on any of the five total counts of possession of child pornography with which he is charged.
Gurnee authorities said an unspecified number of child pornography images were recovered from a computer that was confiscated after a search warrant was issued for Wendt's home June 20. He was taken into custody after the search.
Police added Wendt was under investigation for several weeks before the warrant was authorized, and the case remains under investigation.
Wendt was freed from Lake County jail after posting the required 10 percent of his $500,000 bail. He is due back in court Sept 9 for a case management conference with Judge James Booras. His trial is tentatively set for Oct. 27.