A 32-year-old DuPage County sheriff’s deputy, Steven M. Simmons of Lisle, was fired after being accused of possessing and disseminating child sexual abuse material. The Illinois Attorney General’s office was investigating him, and Lisle police searched his hom
The moment Steven M. Simmons walked into court on Wednesday, the case was already moving fast.
Simmons. a 32-year-old deputy with the DuPage County sheriff’s office. appeared in court charged with multiple crimes involving child sexual abuse material. DuPage County sheriff’s officials said Simmons was fired at the conclusion of the hearing after the sheriff’s office learned on Monday that the Illinois Attorney General’s office was investigating him.
The charges stemmed from a search carried out by investigators and police officers from the Lisle police department. On Tuesday. the group searched Simmons’ home in the 5500 block of Lakeside Drive in Lisle and took him into custody after evidence of child sexual abuse material was found. according to officials.
The Illinois Attorney General’s office framed the case as part of its broader effort to target people who download and trade child sexual abuse images online. In a statement. Attorney General Kwame Raoul’s office said the case was part of Raoul’s ongoing work in collaboration with federal law enforcement agencies and local law enforcement officials throughout Illinois to apprehend offenders.
The crimes Simmons is accused of are each punishable by up to 15 years in prison if convicted, Raoul’s office said. Simmons is scheduled to return to court on June 15.
Between the Monday notification to the sheriff’s office. the Tuesday search of a Lisle home. and the Wednesday termination decision that followed the court appearance. the timeline has left little room for delay—only for the next step: what prosecutors can prove in court and how quickly the case can move forward.
DuPage County DuPage sheriff Lisle police child sexual abuse material Steven M. Simmons Kwame Raoul Illinois Attorney General court hearing June 15