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Updated: 11:07 PM Jul 7, 2009
Child Porn Case
A Belvidere neighborhood is rocked by a major child porn investigation. Many neighbors tell 23 News they had no idea this could strike so close to home. Posted: 10:53 PM Jul 7, 2009Reporter: Max Seigle |
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Sara Watts was sitting here on her porch about three weeks ago when she looked out at a police raid just four doors down.
"There were like 15 cops that jumped out of it, went up to the door, heard them yell something and then they busted the door down," Watts said.
A lot of commotion stemming from a search warrant on this home along South State Street in Belvidere.
Authorities seized everything from drugs, drug paraphernalia to serious evidence of child porn.
Authorities believe this man, Carlos Witherington, is responsible for the latter.
Here in this indictment, he's charged with more than 50 counts of child pornography.
"It scares me because I have five kids of my own. It's really frightening," Watts said.
The indictment details 53 pictures in Witherington's possession, showing kids under 13 having sex with adults.
Plus video tapes he allegedly made performing lude acts with minors. There's also a sexual assault charge involving a victim they're calling "Jane Doe."
Watts never knew Witherington or noticed anything strange at this home before the police raid.
"I did see a lot of people sitting outside a few times but I never really suspected anything," Watts said.
Still, she's now feeling safer with her kids in her own hands, and her unknown neighbor off the streets.
"I don't want someone saying, hey come here, and trying something. I would freak out," Watts said.
Boone County State's Attorney Michelle Courier says there are some local kids involved in the child porn video tapes.
But they're still trying to figure out if there are more from the pictures and the Jane Doe victim, allegedly sexually assaulted by Witherington.
He's currently in the Boone County Jail on a million dollar bond.
We did knock on Witherington's door at home Tuesday night to see if any family or friends were around. But no one answered.
He's due back in court July 10th where a judge will consider a bond reduction for him.
Latest Comments
I'm so disgusted by this scumbag. It appears that the rest of the people living there have moved and the house is for sale. Are they sure they have everyone involved? I have seen quite a few people hanging out on that porch in the past. I'm concerned that they don't have everyone in custody.
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