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WNIJ's summary of news items around our state.

More Suspicious Material Destroyed In DeKalb Child Pornography Probe

Jenna Dooley

UPDATE: During the continuing investigation involving this incident, a second search was conducted on a storage unit. The search started on 10/11/19, at about 4:50 pm.

While searching the storage unit, officers came across more materials that caused concern. According to a release, the search was halted while the Kane County Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad (KCSO) and Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) responded to assist.

Upon their arrival, KCSO determined that the material was too dangerous to transport any significant distance. They also determined that the material needed to be destroyed.

The materials were transported to a remote area in DeKalb, where under the supervision of the DeKalb Police Department, FBI, DeKalb Fire Department, and the Kane County Bomb Squad, the materials were destroyed in a safe manner. DeKalb police issued a text alert to residents before destroying the materials.

BACKGROUND: On Wednesday, Oct. 9th, 2019, at approximately 8:37 am, the DeKalb Police Department assisted the Illinois Attorney General’s Office with serving a search warrant at an apartment located in 1100 Block of W. Lincoln Highway, DeKalb. According to a release, the Illinois Attorney General’s Office obtained the search warrant for the residence after the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a report about a child pornography image.

The Illinois Attorney General’s Office investigation led to probable cause to believe child pornography would be located at the residence of suspect, Brenton Strobert.

According to the release, during the search, numerous images of child pornography were located. Additionally, investigators came upon suspicious materials that gave cause for concern. The Kane County Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms Agency (ATF) responded to assist with the identification of the material, and the proper handling of it.

They deemed the materials safe to handle and remove from the property and found there to be no safety concern to building tenants.

The materials were transported to a remote area in DeKalb where through the supervision of the FBI, ATF, DeKalb Fire Department, and the Kane County Bomb Squad, the materials were destroyed.

Strobert was arrested by DeKalb Police investigators. He was transported to the DeKalb Police Department, interviewed, and charged with Child Pornography, Class 1 Felony (10 counts) and Failure to Register as a Sex Offender, a Class 3 Felony