Child pornography charges filed against Freeport man

FREEPORT, Ill. (WTVO) — A 40-year-old Freeport man faces multiple charges of child pornography after authorities said evidence of the crimes was recovered in a forensic search of his home.

According to the Freeport Police Department, officers from both the police department and the Internet Crimes Against Children task force conducted the search at the home of Stephen Willhite, in the 500 block of S. Cherry Avenue, around 5:50 a.m. on Tuesday, September 30th.

Authorities said they recovered images of child pornography during the search.

Willhite was arrested and charged with 10 counts of Possession of Child Pornography. He was taken to the Stephenson County Jail, where he is being held pending the outcome of a pretrial detention hearing.