Sex Offender Charged With Unlawful Recording, Child Pornography

NEW LENOX, IL — A Frankfort man is facing charges after he was accused of taking a photo of a woman's buttocks at the New Lenox Target on July 2, according to a release from police. Aaron Bettenhausen, 42, who is a registered sex offender in Illinois, was charged with unlawful video recording and possession of child pornography.

The charges are the result of an investigation that began July 2 after a report of a man taking inappropriate pictures of girls at Target, 2370 E. Lincoln Highway. According to New Lenox Police, officers met with a woman who said that a man, now known to be Bettenhausen, took a picture of her buttocks while she shopped at the store. The woman confronted Bettenhausen, and he exited the store while she followed him.

Police said the woman provided a description of Bettenhausen as well as a picture of the license plate of the car he drove away in.

New Lenox investigators met with Bettenhausen on Tuesday and served him with a search warrant for his phone and car, police said. Bettenhausen was then taken to the police department for further investigation.

After investigators found child pornography on Bettenhausen's cell phone, police got another warrant to search his home. According to police, a search of his home also revealed additional digital files of child pornography.

Bettenhausen was taken to the Will County Adult Detention Facility, and has a bond hearing Wednesday.

According to the Illinois Sex Offender Registry, Bettenhausen is listed as a sexual predator and has a previous conviction for child pornography.