Lake Zurich man gets probation for child porn

A Lake Zurich man was placed on probation for 30 months Friday after pleading guilty to possession of child pornography.

James Dement, 24, was also fined $1,500 and ordered to perform 200 hours of community service.

Lake County Assistant State's Attorney Mary Stanton said an FBI agent acting in connection with that agency's investigation of the file-sharing Web site "Limewire" downloaded child pornography from Dement's computer in early February 2008.

The FBI obtained a search warrant for Dement's home in the 800 block of Interlaken Drive, and on Feb. 12, 2008 went there and seized his computers.

A total of nine files containing images of child pornography were found in a pair of laptop computers Dement owned, Stanton said.

Dement admitted he had used the "Limewire" site for two to three weeks before taking it off his computer, Stanton said, and said he believed he was addicted to child pornography.

Dement entered psychiatric treatment shortly after his arrest, Stanton said, and an evaluation predicted he would be successful in sex offender treatment.

Associate Judge George Bridges ordered Dement to undergo all treatment programs recommended by his probation officer, and told Dement his Internet use would be monitored while he is on probation.

Dement must also surrender his laptop computers to the FBI and will be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

Stanton said Dement has no prior criminal record and faced up to five years in prison if convicted.