Man arrested on charges of child porn, solicitation following investigation by State’s Attorney Glasgow’s High Tech Crimes Unit
October 13
Mark R. Barreto, 34.
JOLIET – Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow announces that child pornography and indecent solicitation charges have been filed against a Chicago man following a six-month investigation conducted by his High Technology Crimes Unit.
Mark R. Barreto, 34, of 300 N. Canal Street, Chicago, was charged Wednesday with aggravated child pornography (Class X), child pornography (Class 1), indecent solication of a child (Class 3), grooming (Class 4) and indecent solicitation of a child (Class A Misdemeanor). The Class X Felony carrries a penalty of between 6-30 years in prison with no option for probation upon conviction.
The child pornography charges allege the defendant transferred pornographic digital images of children between the ages of 5-years-old and 15-years-old over the Internet. The indecent solicitation and grooming charges allege the defendant discussed acts of sexual conduct over the Internet with someone he believed to be a child and that he exposed himself to that individual.
The individual he believed to be a child was actually the persona of a 14-year-old Naperville girl that was created by High Technology Crimes Unit investigators. The defendant also discussed meeting with a Bolingbrook man and the 14-year-old girl for sex in a Bolingbrook hotel. Information provided by the Bolingbrook man launched the investigation that led to charges against Barreto.
A Will County judge set bond at $250,000 for Barreto on Wednesday afternoon. He is scheduled to appear in court for preliminary hearing or arraignment on Nov. 21. As a condition of his bond, he can only use a computer for work purposes and cannot have contact with children under the age of 18. The investigation into Barreto continues.
“Over the past eight months, the High Technology Crimes Unit has launched investigations that have resulted in criminal charges against nearly 20 individuals,” said State’s Attorney Glasgow. “Our goal is to expand this unit so that we can stop the production and dissemination of child pornography and halt the vile exploitation of our children.”
The Bolingbrook Police Department, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the FBI were instrumental in conducting the investigation and securing the arrest.
The Will County State’s Attorney’s Office reminds the public that charges are not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.