Peotone man arrested on child porn charges

November 13

JOLIET – Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow announces that five counts of child pornography have been filed against a Peotone man.

Aaron Bettenhausen, 35, of the 300 block of Garfield Avenue, was arrested Wednesday and booked into the Will County Jail. Bond was set Thursday afternoon at $750,000. Bettenhausen must post 10-percent or $75,000 to secure his release while awaiting trial.

The charges were the result of an investigation by State’s Attorney Glasgow’s High Technology Crimes Unit and the Peotone Police Department. The High Technology Crimes Unit, which was established by Glasgow in 2012, works with local police departments to track and arrest individuals who trade child pornography over the Internet. In many instances, investigations result in charges alleging that the suspects have either produced child pornography or sexually abused a child.

One of the charges against Bettenhausen alleges the defendant surreptitiously recorded an underage girl while she was naked and dressing in her own bedroom in 2009. Other counts allege that he knowingly possessed digital videos containing child pornography. The most serious charge is a Class X felony that carries a penalty of six to 30 years in prison with no option for probation upon conviction.

State’s Attorney Glasgow thanked the Peotone Police Department for its assistance in conducting the investigation.

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.