Sentencing Date Set For Sonntag As Attorneys Ask For New Trial

CHICAGO, IL — A Morgan Park man convicted of possessing child pornography will learn his fate when is sentenced in November. James Sonntag, 46, appeared Tuesday before Cook County Judge Colleen Hyland, who declared Sonntag guilty last month following a four-day bench trial. Sonntag’s attorneys also filed a motion for a new trial.

Sonntag was arrested in the backyard of his Beverly home in June 2016, when Evergreen Park police working for the Internet Crimes Against Children task force traced downloads made from a file sharing network to Sonntag’s IP address. Sexually explicit videos depicting children were found stored on his computer in a file called “Jim’s files.”

A heavily bearded Sonntag wearing a tan jail uniform appeared with his attorneys for a pre-sentencing hearing. His attorneys filed a mitigation packet and post-trial motion for a new trial. Bond was revoked and Sonntag has been incarcerated in Cook County Jail, since the guilty verdict was announced last month.

Jury selection was set to take place in August when Sonntag turned down a deal that would have sent him to the Illinois Department of Corrections for six years in exchange for a guilty plea. In another about face, Sonntag opted for a bench trial in August, during which graphic child porn videos were played for the judge.

Hyland set a sentencing date for Nov. 7, when testimony from both sides is expected to take place. Sonntag faces a sentence of probation to possible imprisonment ranging from 3 to 7 for years for each felony count in the Illinois Department of Corrections. Sonntag will also have to register as a sex offender.

Sonntag smiled wanly at family members as he was led out of the courtroom. His brother raised a fist in the air.