Lake County Gazette

A Lake County judge has granted the State’s petition to detain Jose Real, 52, who faces three counts of child pornography, a class 2 felony. Real was arrested on July 31 following an investigation by Lake County Sheriff’s detectives, which revealed he had been downloading and possessing child pornography.

During the detention hearing, prosecutors argued that releasing Real before trial would pose a significant threat to community safety. They emphasized that possession of child pornography is both a sex crime and a violent crime, as the children depicted in such materials are harmed each time the content is shared. Prosecutors also highlighted the importance of reducing demand for illegal and harmful material.

Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart commented on the case after the hearing: “With the SAFE-T Act, we are able to keep our children safe from predators like this one. Under the cash system, based on preliminary data, seven out of every 10 offenders charged with child pornography were posting large amounts of cash and getting out on bail. Ever since the SAFE-T Act went into effect, we have held EVERY offender being charged with possession of child pornography."

Real's preliminary hearing is scheduled for August 29, 2024, at 1:30 p.m.