Lemont Man, 38, Charged with Possession of Child Pornography

A Lemont man faces charges of possession of child pornography after an investigation by local and county authorities. John E. Praninskas, 38, of the 400 block of Keepataw Drive, was arrested Friday, Dec. 5, following a five-month investigation which led to police discovering just under 100 pieces of child pornography.

Police were first alerted to Praninskas as a suspicious person, reported as stalking a subject, said Det. Sgt. Thad Mezyk. Police found Praninskas to have narcotics and arrested him for possession of a controlled substance in July 2014. Though the stalking allegations were determined unfounded, police discovered the pornographic images on his cellular devices during a subsequent investigation. 

Praninskas was charged with aggravated possession of child pornography, a Class X felony that carries a prison term of no less than six months, no more than 30 years, along with a maximum fine of $100,000.

Praninskas was processed at the Lemont Police Department and taken to the Cook County Jail, 2700 S. California, to await a hearing.

Lemont Police Chief Shaughnessy praised the detectives’ work.

“This investigation was complex and tedious and required the use of advanced technological resources,” Shaughnessy said. “This investigation was complex and tedious and required the use of advanced technological resources. The resulting arrest today is due to the cooperation of all the agencies listed above.”