St. Charles man faces child porn, drug charges

A 51-year-old St. Charles man surrendered to authorities this week on charges of cocaine and marijuana possession, as well as allegations of child pornography possession.

Police began investigating Gary L. Harris, of the 1800 block of Howard Street, in May after Downers Grove and Naperville police linked him to sharing child pornography over the Internet, officials said.

St. Charles police said in a news release Wednesday that a search of Harris’ Internet Protocol address indicated he lived in St. Charles and authorities searched his home in late September.

Harris is charged with: manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a school or park; four counts of aggravated child pornography; manufacture/delivery of between 30 grams and 500 grams of cannabis; and possession of a controlled substance, according to court records.

All are felonies; the most severe charge, the delivery of a controlled substance near a park — in this case Fairview Park at South 19th and Oak streets — carries a prison term of six to 30 years if convicted with no possibility of probation.

St. Charles Police spokesman Paul McCurtain declined to comment on how much marijuana and cocaine were seized from Harris’ home.

“There were numerous items that were seized in the search warrant that resulted in the four (child pornography) counts,” he said.

According to court records, Harris had four DVDs containing child pornography.

Harris was charged earlier this month and he posted $10,000 bond and was released after surrendering on Monday.

He is next due in court Nov. 14. Contact information for his attorney was not immediately available.