Graphic Child Porn Videos Found In Man's Dropbox Account: COPS

INDIAN HEAD PARK, IL -- An Indian Head Park man was arrested after 350 files depicting graphic child pornography videos were found in his Dropbox accounts, prosecutors said. Joseph Baumgartner, 32, appeared before Cook County Judge Peter Felice on two felony counts of possession of child pornography. Baumgartner was reportedly under investigation since 2015.

The prosecutor said the National Center for Missing and Exploited Chicago first became aware of child pornography videos being sent to Dropbox accounts in March and April 2015, and November and December 2016. The Illinois Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force also received two cyber tips from Dropbox notifying investigators of the presence of child porn, launching an investigation, the prosecutor said.

Investigators were able to trace the Dropbox accounts through Baumgartner’s gmail and Yahoo email accounts, the prosecutor said. Baumgartner allegedly accessed the Dropbox accounts using his Samsung Galaxy smartphone. On June 15, 2017, members of the Illinois ICAC task force went to Baumgartner’s home where they met with him and his wife. During their meeting, the prosecutor said that Baumgartner denied he had been putting child pornography into his Dropbox account.

While ICAC investigators were at Baumgartner’s home, he told police he was feeling sick, the prosecutor said. Baumgartner went to the bathroom, apparently taking his phone with him. It is believed that Baumgartner deleted 55 files of child pornographic videos from his phone while in the bathroom. Investigators determined that the Dropbox accounts had received multiple emails from Baumgartner’s email accounts, to which only he had access, according to the allegations.

The task force members found 350 additional video files on Dropbox of preteen and teen girls engaged in various sex acts, including teens in bondage and children performing oral sex on other children, the prosecutor said. Baumgartner was arrested on Nov. 29. Baumgartner’s phone and electronic devices were taken by police for further forensic evaluation.

Baumgartner’s attorney said his client is employed full time by an auto glass company. He’s a graduate of J. Sterling Morton High School. The attorney said Baumgartner’s father could possibly put up a $5,000 bond.

“This is serious and troublesome to me,” Felice said.

The prosecutor requested special conditions of bond, including no contact with children under the age of 18, except for relatives. He also requested that Baumgartner be prohibited from using the Internet while his case is pending.

“I want him to stay away from schools and parks, too,” Felice said. “He cannot go within 250 feet of a park or school.”

Bail was set at $50,000. Baumgartner was also given a curfew during the week, and home confinement on the weekends. If convicted, Baumgartner faces probation or 3 to 7 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. Baumgartner is due back in court Dec. 27 in Bridgeview.