Island Lake Man Held Without Pretrial Release In Child Sexual Abuse Material Case

MCHENRY COUNTY, IL — An Island Lake man has been ordered to remain in custody while awaiting trial after a judge granted prosecutors’ request to deny pretrial release in a case involving allegations of child sexual abuse material.

McHenry County Judge Cynthia Lamb has granted the state’s petition to detain Robert E. Thornton, 57, who faces three counts of possession of child sexual abuse material, a Class 2 felony, and one count of failure to register as a sex offender, a Class 3 felony, according to a news release from the state's attorney's office.

According to prosecutors, the investigation began after the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a CyberTip from Snapchat on Nov. 7, 2025, reporting suspected child sexual abuse material uploaded from an account believed to belong to someone in Island Lake.

The CyberTip was forwarded to the Island Lake Police Department. Investigators used search warrants and records from electronic service providers to identify the IP address, email address and Snapchat account allegedly connected to Thornton, prosecutors said.

Authorities said detectives seized 18 items for forensic analysis and allege Thornton failed to register the Snapchat account and associated email address as required under Illinois’ Sex Offender Registration Act. Thornton is a registered sex offender with prior convictions for indecent solicitation of a child in Cook County in 2001 and possession of child sexual abuse material in Kendall County in 2008, according to prosecutors.

Thornton’s next court date is scheduled for Aug. 18, 2026, in Courtroom 302.