A 24-year-old Des Plaines resident, Matthew Feeney, is facing a possession of child sexual abuse material charge after investigators say they found more than 100 illicit files on his cellphone. Authorities say they first received information on Feb. 18 that the phone allegedly contained multiple illegal images, and a later search warrant turned up over 100 files, some of which reportedly involved children younger than 13. Feeney was taken into custody near his home the following day and remains jailed as he awaits his first court appearance.
Arrest and evidence
According to the Cook County Sheriff’s Office, Feeney was arrested on Feb. 19 near his residence in the 9000 block of Capitol Drive in unincorporated Des Plaines, and a forensic review of his phone allegedly uncovered the images, FOX 32 Chicago reports. Officials shared details of the investigation with local media after the arrest.
Local pattern and investigations
Feeney’s case lands just weeks after another high-profile arrest in Des Plaines, where investigators in January said they recovered about 6,500 images and videos of child sexual abuse from another man’s devices, a haul highlighted in local coverage of the 6,500 files seized. Sheriff’s press statements and local reporting indicate that the county’s Internet Crimes Against Children unit frequently traces illicit files back to suspects using cybertips from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. The unit has handled dozens of similar investigations in recent years, according to the Cook County Sheriff's Office.
What the law says
Illinois law treats offenses involving child sexual images as serious crimes, with penalties that increase when victims are younger, especially under age 13, under 720 ILCS 5/11-20.1, the section that covers child pornography and aggravated child pornography. How a case is ultimately charged depends on what the images depict and the state’s charging decisions, and prosecutors refine the specific counts as the case moves forward, according to the statute.
Next steps
Feeney will remain in custody until his initial court appearance, and officials have not released additional information about the investigation, FOX 32 Chicago reports. Authorities are asking anyone with information related to the case or similar activity to contact the Cook County Sheriff’s Office or the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.
