MONROE - A Monroe man accused of possessing at least 50 video clips depicting child pornography had a not-guilty plea entered on his behalf in Green County Circuit Court.
John J. Eberle, 52, appeared in court Tuesday and waived his right to a preliminary hearing. Since Eberle chose not to have a preliminary hearing, the court determined from testimony in police reports and information from the criminal complaint that evidence appeared to show multiple felonies occurred.
Eberle is charged with eight Class D felonies for possession of child pornography stemming from a month-long investigation by Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation agents. DCI agents and Monroe police executed a search warrant at Eberle's home in the 2500 block of 13th Avenue Jan. 8 and seized a laptop computer that allegedly contained 50 individual video clips depicting child pornography.
Court records indicate DCI agents with Internet Crimes Against Children Unit discovered that a computer in the Monroe area had downloaded files containing child pornography over the internet.
Agents became aware Eberle had allegedly downloaded child pornography in December and issued a subpoena to internet provider Charter to learn Eberle's address. Officers randomly chose eight clips procured from the laptop, all of which allegedly contained evidence of prepubescent children engaging in sex acts.
Each count against Eberle carries a maximum fine of $100,000 or 25 years imprisonment or both. If convicted of the maximum penalty, Eberle could face up to $800,000 in fines or 200 years imprisonment or both.
Conditions of Eberle's bond stipulate that he is not to leave Green County or the state except for his employment through Conway Trucking; not possess any electronic devices except a cellular phone; and not have contact with underage persons without supervised contact of family members.
He has a pretrial conference set for April 7.
John J. Eberle, 52, appeared in court Tuesday and waived his right to a preliminary hearing. Since Eberle chose not to have a preliminary hearing, the court determined from testimony in police reports and information from the criminal complaint that evidence appeared to show multiple felonies occurred.
Eberle is charged with eight Class D felonies for possession of child pornography stemming from a month-long investigation by Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation agents. DCI agents and Monroe police executed a search warrant at Eberle's home in the 2500 block of 13th Avenue Jan. 8 and seized a laptop computer that allegedly contained 50 individual video clips depicting child pornography.
Court records indicate DCI agents with Internet Crimes Against Children Unit discovered that a computer in the Monroe area had downloaded files containing child pornography over the internet.
Agents became aware Eberle had allegedly downloaded child pornography in December and issued a subpoena to internet provider Charter to learn Eberle's address. Officers randomly chose eight clips procured from the laptop, all of which allegedly contained evidence of prepubescent children engaging in sex acts.
Each count against Eberle carries a maximum fine of $100,000 or 25 years imprisonment or both. If convicted of the maximum penalty, Eberle could face up to $800,000 in fines or 200 years imprisonment or both.
Conditions of Eberle's bond stipulate that he is not to leave Green County or the state except for his employment through Conway Trucking; not possess any electronic devices except a cellular phone; and not have contact with underage persons without supervised contact of family members.
He has a pretrial conference set for April 7.