Accused of persuading an inmate under the age of 17 to pose for a lewd photograph, a former Lake County probation officer and juvenile counselor pleaded not guilty Thursday in Lake County Circuit Court to charges including child pornography and official misconduct.
According to authorities and a Grand Jury indictment, the charges relate to Matthew Goebel’s alleged actions involving two inmates at the county’s Depke Juvenile Justice Center Vernon Hills.
Goebel, 26, of Morton Grove, was indicted last month on charges of possession and dissemination of child pornography, indecent solicitation of a child, grooming and official misconduct.
If convicted of the most serious child pornography charges, Goebel would face a potential sentence of four to 15 years in prison. He entered the not guilty pleas Thursday before Judge Daniel Shanes.
According to the indictment, Goebel allegedly solicited or persuaded an inmate under the age of 17 at the Depke Juvenile Detention Center to pose for a lewd photograph, and that he allowed another inmate, under the age of 18, to use a telephone in exchange for posing for an explicit picture.
Goebel is free after posting 10 percent of a $150,000 bail, according to the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office.
More Top Picks Fl 41 Vs Blue Light Glasses Which Do You Need
Investigators confirmed that the charges against Goebel involved two juveniles that he came into contact with while a juvenile counselor at the Depke Juvenile Justice Center.
According to the Lake County Circuit Court’s Probation Department, Goebel worked for several months as a juvenile counselor at the Depke Center before applying for, and being accepted to, a job as an adult probation officer last summer.
He was fired from his position last fall after the investigation was initiated, officials said.
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office Special Investigations Division was asked to look into allegations of misconduct by Goebel following allegations that came to the attention of the Lake County Circuit Court’s Probation Department.
Twitter @JimNewton5