ADDITIONAL CHARGES FILED AGAINST ACCUSED CHILD PORNOGRAPHER

WHEATON - DuPage County State’s Attorney Joseph E. Birkett announced today that Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse charges have been filed against an Aurora man already facing child pornography charges filed just under one month ago.  On March 19, 2009 Larry J. Barker, 58 (d.o.b. 7/18/1950) of 355 N. Oakhurst Drive, was charged with one count of Aggravated Child Pornography, a Class X Felony and one count of Possession of Child Pornography, a Class 3 Felony.

Today’s new charges are the result of an investigation by the Wheaton Police Department into the distribution of images and movies containing child pornography.  It is alleged that through the course of the investigation, detectives were able to trace dissemination of child pornography back to Barker’s computer.  It is further alleged that the investigation revealed that Barker had sexually abused an underage minor. 

“It is a sad truth that people who engage in child pornography, as we have alleged in this case, do not stop there and often times engage in other criminal sexual activity,” commented Birkett.  “If these new allegations are proven true, Mr. Barker betrayed the trust of his victim just to satisfy his own desires.  I would like to thank the Wheaton Police Department, the DuPage County Children’s Center as well as Assistant State’s Attorney Brian Perkins for their work on this case.”

Barker is currently being held in the DuPage County Jail on $750,000 bond with 10% to apply.  He is scheduled to appear in Bond Court this afternoon on the additional charges.

Members of the public are reminded that these complaints contain only charges and are not proof of the defendant’s guilt.  A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the government’s burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

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