150+ Explicit Child Files Found On Arlington Heights Man's Phone: Sheriff

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL — A 32-year-old Arlington Heights man has been charged after a Cook County sheriff's police investigation found more than 150 files of explicit images and videos of children on his phone.

Ian Stehmeier was charged Wednesday with felony counts of dissemination of child sexual abuse material and possession of child sexual abuse material, Sheriff Thomas J. Dart announced.

The investigation began Dec. 5, 2025, when the sheriff's police Internet Crimes Against Children and Cyber Trafficking units reviewed multiple cyber tips involving uploaded child sexual abuse material files that traced to the same cellphone number and email address.

After confirming the uploaded files contained sexually explicit images of children, investigators obtained search warrants for phone and internet service providers. IP addresses used to upload the files traced to two Arlington Heights locations: a home in the 400 block of North Windsor Drive and a Jewel grocery store in the 1800 block of South Arlington Heights Road.

Investigators learned Stehmeier lived at the North Windsor Drive address and met with him there June 10.

After being issued a Miranda warning, Stehmeier agreed to speak with investigators. His phone number, email and internet service provider matched the information traced to the uploaded files, according to the sheriff's office.

Stehmeier also told investigators he worked at the Jewel in the 1800 block of South Arlington Heights Road, officials said. Investigators then took possession of his cellphone.

Sheriff's police executed a search warrant on the phone Monday and found more than 150 files of explicit images and videos of children.

Stehmeier was taken into custody Tuesday. Later that day, the Cook County State's Attorney’s Office approved the felony charges.

He was ordered held in Cook County Jail custody Thursday following a first appearance hearing at the Rolling Meadows Courthouse.