A registered sex offender in Aurora is back in court trouble after detectives say a multi-year investigation uncovered suspected child sexual abuse material tied to him. Robert Terry May, 38, was arrested last Wednesday and is now charged with ten counts of possession of child sexual abuse material and five counts of failure to register as a sex offender. He was released under pretrial supervision and is scheduled to return to Kane County court on May 28.
Arrest and charges
According to Aurora police, May, who lives in the 700 block of Serendipity Drive, was taken into custody on April 29 without incident and booked into the Kane County Adult Justice Center. A judge later ordered him released under pretrial supervision. He is facing ten felony counts of possession of child sexual abuse material and five felony counts of failing to register as a sex offender, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
How the probe unfolded
The case traces back to reports flagged through national child-safety channels. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children reviews tips and can pass along leads to Internet Crimes Against Children task forces or local departments. NCMEC’s CyberTipline and the ICAC network often set off lengthy digital forensics work as investigators follow online accounts, devices, and service-provider records, according to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.
Prior conviction and next steps
Police and local reporting state that May has a prior child-pornography conviction in Kentucky from 2014. As part of the current investigation, detectives executed search warrants and conducted forensic examinations of electronic devices. Details from Thursday’s detention hearing were limited, and May is expected back in Kane County court on May 28, as reported by the Chicago Sun-Times.
Legal implications
Illinois law requires people who must register as sex offenders to keep their address and other identifying information current. Failure to comply can be prosecuted under the Sex Offender Registration Act, which lays out both the duties to register and possible penalties. Possession and dissemination of child sexual abuse material fall under the state’s criminal code at 720 ILCS 5/11-20.1 and can result in significant prison terms, with moving-image offenses and prior convictions in particular potentially increasing charges to more serious felony levels, according to the Illinois General Assembly and the statute at 720 ILCS 5/11-20.1.
May’s May 28 court appearance could reveal more about the volume and nature of the alleged materials and whether prosecutors plan to pursue additional charges or sentencing enhancements. Further developments are expected to come through the court docket and updates from Aurora police.
