A Highland Park man faces child pornography charges after Vernon Hills police opened an investigation into material allegedly found on his computer while it was at a local computer repair shop, according to a police news release.
Villamor N. Rayos, 66, of 1690 Southland Ave., Highland Park, has been charged with five counts of possession of child pornography, Vernon Hills Police said.
A Manager at Tiger Direct, a Milwaukee Avenue computer repair business, called police on Feb. 14, to report that a device brought in for repair contained what appeared to be child pornography, according to the release..
Police seized the computer and an external hard drive. A Vernon Hills police officer, who is also a member of the Illinois Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, confirmed the presence of numerous videos of child pornography, police said.
On Feb. 19, investigators interviewed Rayos and charges followed.
“We are extremely pleased that the store officials called us when they discovered the images,” Vernon Hills Police Chief Mark Fleischhauer said. “Their call was essential in helping us make an arrest for this very serious crime.”
According to police, there is no indication any of the images involved local youths.
Rayos is being held in the Lake County Jail on a $100,000 bail. His next court appearance scheduled March 6.
Pioneer Press Reporter Rick Kambic contributed to this story.
More Top Picks Steelcase Gesture
@jimnewton5