Crime & Safety
$3M Bail For Man Who Coerced Child Into Sending Images, Videos: Police
Authorities say the man, who was roommates with the child's mother, created a fake account and pretended to be someone the girl's age.
LAKE COUNTY, IL — Bail has been set at $3 million for a Lake County man who faces child pornography charges for possessing nude images and videos of his roommate’s child, authorities said.
Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a home in unincorporated Lake Villa on Tuesday after the mother of the child found images of her daughter on the man’s phone and reported the discovery to police, according to a news release from the sheriff’s office.
Police said an investigation into Eric R. Studdard, 37, who lived at the home on West Park Lane in unincorporated Lake Villa with the mother and her child, revealed Studdard had several videos and images of child pornography.
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"Investigators believe he deceived her by creating a fake account and pretending to be someone her age," Lake County Sheriff's Office Deputy Christopher Covelli told Patch in an email response.
Studdard was arrested and has been charged with felony charges of child pornography. Sheriff’s detectives continue to investigate, and additional charges are possible.
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Studdard remains at the Lake County Jail and most post 10 percent of his $3 million bail, or $300,000, to be released on bond.
Studdard is next expected in court on July 12.
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