Man accused of having child porn images, videos
A 51-year-old Uptown man who allegedly had more than 2,500 images and videos of child pornography on his computers — some of which featured children as young as 1 — is being held at the Cook County Jail on a $100,000 bond.
Seamus Webb, of the 1600 block of West Carmen, was arrested by Cook County Sheriff ’s Police Child Exploitation Unit officers on Thursday at his apartment without incident, the sheriff ’s office said.
He has been charged with aggravated dissemination of child porn; aggravated possession of child porn; possession of child porn pictures; and possession of child porn movies, according to the sheriff ’s office.
He faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted.
Sheriff ’s police executed a search warrant at Webb’s apartment on Thursday based on information received from the FBI.
A total of four computers and other items were taken from the home, and officers interviewed Webb, who admitted to possessing and disseminating child porn, police said.
Officers found 2,500 images and videos of child pornography on Webb’s computers, including images of bestiality and bondage that featured minors, according to sheriff ’s police.
When the search warrant was executed, Webb told police that he had owned the building he lived in for 20 years.
He said he started looking at adult porn but soon began looking at and searching for child pornography, according to court records. He said he received and sent child porn images via email.
Webb owns a beauty salon in the Andersonville neighborhood, and according to court records, has no previous criminal record.
He appeared in bond court Friday and was ordered held on $100,000.
Cook County Circuit Judge Israel Desierto also ordered him to have no contact with anyone under 18 and no access to the Internet or cell phones.