Child Pornography Defendant Fired As Joliet Public Schools' Janitor Reveals His New Private Defense Counsel

JOLIET, IL — Jeremy Ledesma, the Joliet grade school janitor who was fired in January after being charged with child pornography possession following a lengthy Will County Sheriff's Office investigation in 2025, has made a decision to switch private criminal defense lawyers.

Next week, the private defense counsel for Ledesma will begin her new job as the main Will County Public Defender, replacing the retiring Michael Renzi. With Kristine Honiotes closing up her private law practice in downtown Joliet, Will County's judiciary was notified that Ledesma will now be utilizing the services of one of Joliet's most reputable private defense attorneys, the law offices of Daniel Walsh.

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Earlier this month, Honiotes notified Judge Christiansen of her decision to withdraw as Ledesma's attorney and Walsh appeared in Courtroom 402 to replace her. Ledesma will not have to return to the Will County Courthouse until his next pretrial appearance set for Dec. 2.

During her time as Ledesma's defense attorney, Honiotes had several noteworthy pretrial rulings that went in the favor her client.

In April, Joliet Patch produced the following headline, "Joliet Child Pornography Defendant Jeremy Ledesma Wants To Visit Public Libraries, Judge Issues Her Ruling."

According to the article, exactly three months after now-fired Joliet Public School District 86 janitor Jeremy Ledesma regained his freedom from the Will County Jail, the Joliet child pornography defendant had another successful outcome inside the Will County Courthouse.

Will County Judge Amy Christiansen — against the wishes of the Will County State's Attorney's Office of Jim Glasgow — ruled in favor of Ledesma and Honiotes.

According to the judge's decision, "it is hereby ordered that, over the People's objection, the defendant's pretrial release is modified to allow him to travel to a public facility such as a public library for the purpose of using the Internet to seek employment."

While Ledesma was in the Will County Jail back in January for a total of eight days, he was terminated by his employer, Joliet Public School District 86, at the January school board meeting. Ledesma worked as a janitor at Eisenhower Academy and had custodial duties at Keith Grade School.

Judge Christiansen's order stated that, "He shall be allowed to travel to the library and remain there for two hours a total of two times per week. He shall not use the Internet for any other purpose other than to seek employment."

On Jan. 15, Joliet Patch reported that Honiotes prevailed against prosecutor Adam Capelli of the Will County State's Attorney's Office during oral arguments on whether Ledesma should remain in Will County's Jail under the SAFE-T-Act.

Will County Judge Amy Bertani-Tomczak took their arguments under advisement for several minutes before returning to Courtroom 405 to render her decision.

During the SAFE-T-Act arguments, Capelli maintained that Ledesma was trying to distribute child pornography, but Snapchat thwarted his attempts to upload the child pornography to their site, and that ultimately spurred the Will County Sheriff's Office.

Capelli also reminded Judge Bertani that four videos were confiscated from Ledesma's phone that showed he had been filming children at Eisenhower Academy. Although the videos did not show child pornography and were not criminal in nature, the production of these videos "sheds light on the defendant's state of mind," Capelli argued.

Ultimately, Judge Bertani, who has served as a judge for over 30 years, ruled in favor of Ledesma. She pointed out that the Will County Sheriff's Office investigation surrounding the child pornography photos and videos began in May of 2025 and a search warrant at Ledesma's house in the 6900 block of Twin Falls Drive in the Plainfield area was carried out at the end of September in 2025, yet authorities did not take Ledesma into custody at any point until January.

"He's been in the community since May of last year," Judge Bertani informed Capelli, the prosecutor. "The defendant's been free all this time."

However, Judge Bertani imposed several restrictions on Ledesma's movements in the community once he was freed from the Will County Jail. The judge ordered Ledesma to remain under home confinement. He can only leave his family's house in Plainfield for medical appointments, to meet with his lawyer or to attend religious services.

Capelli also asked the judge to put Ledesma on electronic monitoring, and the judge agreed.

Judge Bertani also told Ledesma that he is to have no unsupervised contact with minors and no computer or Internet use.