Grandfather Accused Of Distributing Child Pornography

WESTERN SPRINGS, IL -- A Western Springs grandfather of seven was arrested after he used a messaging app to send explicit photos of children to an undercover FBI agent working a covert investigation, prosecutors said. Edward Evans, 72, appeared before Judge Peter Felice on two Class X felony counts of distributing child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography, a Class 2 charge. Evans appeared in court using a cane.

According to the charges, on Nov. 30, 2017, Evans, using the pseudonym “Friar ###k” was frequenting a child porn incest site on the social media app KIK when he sent three explicit photos depicting young girls under the age of 13 to an FBI agent in Utah. One of the photos displayed a nude girl being held upside down.

On Jan. 9, 2018, second federal task force agent contacted Evans, who disseminated three more explicit photos of nude children, the prosecutor said. Investigators from the Internet Crimes Against Children task force served Evans with a warrant. Investigators found a deleted photo of a “nude prepubescent girl” on a tablet. Evans allegedly admitted to using the KIK app to send the photos using his tablet. He was arrested on Nov. 14.

Evans has no prior criminal background. His attorney told the judge that Evans has seven grandchildren under the age of 18. Evans is retired and a cancer survivor. He was planning to spend the upcoming holidays with his family.

“It was one deleted photo,” his attorney said. “There is no evidence that he had a library or a treasure trove.”

Evans’ attorney said that his client was made aware of the investigation this past March. Evans turned himself in on Wednesday at the Cook County Sheriff Department in Maywood.

“He is a zero flight risk,” the attorney said.

The prosecutor asked that Evans have no contact with children under 18. Evans is also to stop using the Internet while his case is pending. Evans was released on a $100,000 I-bond. He is also on 24/7 home confinement.

“You’re off the Internet,” Felice said.

Felice also granted Evans permission to be with his grandchildren “as long your wife or their parents are around” but “no strange kids.”

Evans is due back in court Dec. 12 in Bridgeview. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of six years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.