From the State’s Attorney:
STATE’S ATTORNEY SECURES PRETRIAL DETENTION OF ALGONQUIN MAN ACCUSED OF DISTRIBUTING CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE MATERIAL
McHenry County State’s Attorney Randi L. Freese announces that on November 5, 2026, Norman A. Franke Jr., 78, of Algonquin, Illinois, was ordered detained pending trial after being charged with
- twelve counts of Dissemination of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM), all Class X felonies, and
- three counts of Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material, Class 2 felonies.
The Honorable Judge Cynthia Lamb granted the State’s Petition to Deny Pretrial Release following the defendant’s initial court appearance Thursday afternoon.
Evidence presented during the detention hearing revealed that a months-long investigation by the Woodstock Police Department uncovered an alleged pattern of downloading and distributing child sexual abuse material through an electronic device traced to the defendant’s Algonquin residence.
The investigation began in mid-August 2026, when a Woodstock Police Department detective, utilizing advanced digital forensic software and investigative scanning tools, identified suspicious online activity involving the exchange of files believed to contain child sexual abuse material.
Over the next couple of months, through the end of October 2026, the detective continued monitoring the activity of an electronic device allegedly being used to repeatedly download and upload files containing CSAM.
Through their investigation, detectives successfully identified the Internet Protocol (IP) address associated with the suspicious activity and traced it to a physical residence in Algonquin, Illinois. Based on the evidence gathered, investigators obtained a search warrant for the home.
In the early morning hours of November 3, 2026, Woodstock Police Department detectives executed the search warrant and located the defendant inside the residence.
Upon entering the home, investigators discovered a computer that was actively uploading files.
An examination of the computer revealed over 70 individual files identified as containing child sexual abuse material.
Franke remains detained at the McHenry County Jail pending trial. His next court appearance is scheduled for November 6, 2026, in Courtroom 304.
“Technology may give these offenders a false sense of anonymity, but it also leaves a trail.
“We will follow that trail and hold those who exploit children accountable. We will hunt down those responsible and prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law,” said State’s Attorney Freese.
The McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office commends the Woodstock Police Department, particularly Detective Matthew Prentice, for its diligent investigation and effective use of advanced technology to identify individuals suspected of engaging in the online sexual exploitation of children.
Members of the public are reminded that this complaint contains only charges and is 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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