Romeoville Man Arrested on Child Pornography, Criminal Sexual Abuse Charges

A two-month investigation by Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow's High Technology Crimes Unit led to the arrest of a 26-year-old Romeoville man Monday on nine felony counts, including child pornography and aggravated criminal sexual abuse.

Richard Gilsdorf, 26, of 787 Geneva Ave., Romeoville, was taken into custody during the early-morning hours Monday after officers executed a search warrant at his residence, according to Charles B. Pelkie, director of public affairs in the Will County State's Attorney's Office.

Gilsdorf was booked into the Will County Adult Detention Facility later Monday afternoon, and his bond was set at $1.5 million on Tuesday.

Local law enforcement officials received a tip about the trading of child pornography over the internet from police in Lafayette, Ind., Pelkie said. And that tip led to the investigation of Gilsdorf.

At the time of the raid on his home, the Will County High Technology Crimes Unit was working in conjunction with the Illinois Attorney General's Crimes Against Children Task Force and the Romeoville Police Department.

Pelkie said officers seized computers, hard drives and other items associated with the case and the charges filed against Gilsdorf are the result of preliminary investigation into that evidence.

Gilsdorf is charged with three Class 1 felonies for child pornography, Pelkie said. Each one carries a penalty of 4-15 years in prison. Gilsdorf will need to post $150,000 in bail to secure his release from jail while he awaits trial. He is scheduled to appear at a pre-trail hearing at 9 a.m. on Oct. 15 in Courtroom 405 of the Will County Courthouse, Pelkie said.

The child pornography charges against Gilsdorf allege he was in possession and/or involved in trading of digital images and videos of minors under the age of 18 engaged in acts of sexual conduct dating back to February of 2011, Pelkie said.

The aggravated criminal sex abuse charges allege Gilsdorf conducted acts of sexual conduct with a 14-year-old on multiple occasions, Pelkie said, the most recent being March 5, 2011.

Gilsdorf—as a condition to his bond—cannot have contact with anyone under the age 18, and he cannot have any internet access, Pelkie said.

He said the Will County State's Attorney's High Technology Crimes Unit has handled more than 50 cases since its inception in 2012. He said the unit was formed to focus on the trading of pornography over the internet.