Darien man gets probation for child porn

A Darien man who was charged after an undercover child pornography investigation was sentenced Friday to two years of probation.

Jacob Beesley, 21, of the 900 block of Belair Drive, also must serve 30 days on jail work-release and register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

Beesley was arrested last year after an online undercover investigation by Wheaton police identified suspected child pornography on his computer.

Authorities said detectives obtained a search warrant and found several illicit photos and videos of children younger than 13.

In a police interview, Beesley admitted possessing the images and said he “had become curious to child pornography (web) sites,” Assistant State’s Attorney Joe Lindt said in court.

In exchange for pleading guilty Friday to felony child pornography, prosecutors dismissed a more serious count alleging Beesley disseminated the material. Had he been convicted at trial, he could have faced up to seven years in prison.

DuPage County Judge George Bakalis accepted the plea agreement and imposed the sentence.