Crime & Safety

Ex-Lake Co. Probation Officer Gets Deal; Child Porn Charges Dropped

Matthew Goebel, of Morton Grove, gets probation. He was accused of taking lewd photos of an underage inmate at Vernon Hills juvenile center.

An ex-Lake County probation officer had child pornography charges dropped after pleading down to a lesser charge as part of a negotiated settlement with prosecutors, according to a Daily Herald report.

RELATED: Probation Officer Traded Telephone Use for Lewd Photo of Juvenile: Indictment

Matthew Goebel, 26, of Morton Grove pleaded guilty April 6 to official misconduct and was sentenced to a year's probation and 100 hours of public service, the report stated. He also was sentenced to 90 days in jail if he does not follow the rules of his probation, which prohibits him from drinking, using drugs and coming into contact with the victims of his case, the report added.

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RELATED: Former Probation Officer Pleads Not Guilty to Child Pornography Charges

Goebel was accused last year of persuading an inmate at the Depke Juvenile Justice Center in Vernon Hills to pose for a lewd photo and acting inappropriately with other inmates. He was fired from his post and initially charged with child pornography, indecent solicitation of a child, grooming and official misconduct. Goebel originally pleaded not guilty to those charges.

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