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June 30, 2009
Thomas Adams, the former Green Oaks mayor and Lake County Republican chairman, was sentenced to probation Monday in his child pornography case. …Adams, 71, pleaded guilty in February to 16 counts of possession of child pornography, a Class 3 felony, which is punishable by up to five years in prison, but is also probationable. As part of his plea deal, more serious charges connected to the dissemination of child pornography were dropped.
[Judge Patricia Golden] also ruled that Adams must serve 30 days of periodic imprisonment in Lake County Jail. He can only be released during that time for treatment. Adams must also complete 200 hours of community service, pay a $10,000 fine and register as a sex offender.
“This is not in any way a victimless crime,” Golden said. “If no one was looking at (child pornography), then the children wouldn’t be exploited.” …
Mark Pleasant, an investigator for Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office, said during the sentencing hearing that Adams got most of the photos through AOL Instant Messenger and AOL chat rooms. In one online conversation, Adams discussed the possibility of having sex with an undercover agent’s teenage sons…
Adams and his attorney, Thomas Briscoe, called the behavior a lapse in judgment, and said that Adams was going through a difficult and emotional time because of the death of his son and the cancer treatment his wife was undergoing. …
More at the Lake County News-Sun.
Well, so much for the treasured Republican mantra, “personal accountability.” And what was Judge Golden thinking? Kiddie porn addicts, and perverts who want to have sex with children, are hardly the best candidates for rehabilitation. In fact, they’re the worst.
