Hanover Park man pleads guilty to possessing child pornography

A Cook County judge placed an extensive and daunting list of restrictions on a Hanover Park man Wednesday as a condition of his plea agreement to charges of possessing child pornography.

In exchange for Kevin Cowley’s guilty plea, Judge Kay Hanlon sentenced him to 30 months sex offender probation because she said she did not believe regular probation would sufficiently protect the public.

“This is a most troubling case,” said Hanlon before listing the numerous rules that Cowley must abide by.

He cannot be within 500 feet of a school, playground, library, theme park or any other facility or business that caters to children. He can have no contact with children under 18, including his own children unless the court grants approval. He cannot possess pornography and must stay away from adult entertainment venues. He must submit to a curfew and to regular polygraph exams. He must refrain from using drugs or alcohol. He cannot possess a post office box, nor can he access the Internet except by court approval.

Hanlon ordered Cowley into a sex offender treatment program. She also ordered that he submit to mental health and alcohol evaluations and follow any treatment recommendations.

Lastly, Hanlon ordered the 34-year-old to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

The victim’s mother alerted authorities to the pornography 14 months ago after the victim — who was 12 years old at the time — discovered videos on Cowley’s computer that showed the girl using the bathroom, said Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney John Carroll.

Police recovered two video files from a computer Cowley admitted belonged to him that contained images Carroll described as lewd.

As the hearing concluded, Hanlon warned Cowley against violating his probation. If he does and prosecutors prove the violation, “make no mistake about it,” she said, “you are going to the penitentiary.”