Freeport man faces 10 charges of child pornography

A 23-year-old Freeport man faces multiple child pornography charges following his arrest Wednesday.

John A. Fernandez is charged with seven counts of possessing child pornography and three counts of dissemination of child pornography. All counts are Class X felonies and are each punishable by six to 30 years in state prison.

Fernandez is being held in the Stephenson County Jail with a bond of $200,000. A preliminary hearing has been set for 9 a.m. Feb. 20 at the Stephenson County Courthouse.

Fernandez's arrest is part of "Operation Glass House," a statewide initiative launched by Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan's office to apprehend the most active offenders who download and trade child pornography online.

Madigan's investigators, with the assistance of Freeport Police and the Stephenson County State's Attorney's office, conducted a search of a residence in the 200 block of North Powell Avenue and arrested Fernandez after evidence of alleged child pornography was discovered. State's Attorney John Vogt's office will prosecute the case.