The Lake County Sheriff’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children Team continues its aggressive efforts to protect children from online exploitation and abuse.

In 2025, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office was assigned more than 90 tips through the National ICAC Task Force. These tips range in severity and urgency and often involve active exploitation of children.

Investigations commonly involve child sexual abuse material, online enticement of children for sexual acts, child sex trafficking, child sexual molestation, sextortion and related self-harm threats, distribution of obscene material to minors and deceptive online tactics used to lure children.

In 2025, the Sheriff’s ICAC Team made 13 arrests related to these investigations, including charges involving possession and dissemination of child sexual abuse material, grooming, and indecent solicitation. Additional arrests are anticipated as several investigations remain under review.

Most importantly, in 2025 investigators rescued at least five children from continued abuse and exploitation.

Additionally, investigators identified a new child victim series through the Child Victim Identification Program. Identification of a victim through CVIP means the child has been located and safeguarded, and can now be recognized in future investigations worldwide, preventing further unidentified victimization.

These investigations require the review of thousands upon thousands of images and videos. In some cases, single investigations involve tens of thousands of files.

The Sheriff’s Office also uses an electronic detection canine, K-9 Enzo, who is specially trained to locate hidden electronic storage devices.

Investigators work closely with the Illinois Attorney General’s ICAC Task Force, the Illinois Attorney General’s Digital Forensics Division, the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office, and the Lake County Children’s Advocacy Center to ensure thorough investigations and conduct child-sensitive interviews when necessary.

In addition to enforcement efforts, the Sheriff’s Office conducted multiple internet safety presentations in local schools throughout 2025 to educate students about online risks and prevention strategies.

Sheriff John D. Idleburg said, “Behind every image and every case file is a real child enduring unimaginable abuse,” Sheriff John D. Idleburg said in a news release. “The work our cybercrime investigators do is difficult and often heartbreaking, but it is absolutely critical. In 2025 alone, our team helped rescue multiple children from continued exploitation. That is exactly why we do this work, to protect the innocent and stop predators before they can harm another child.”

Parents and guardians are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the “Take It Down” program operated by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.

The program assists in removing or stopping the online sharing of nude, partially nude, or sexually explicit images involving minors. More information is available at takeitdown.ncmec.org.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office remains committed to holding offenders accountable and protecting children from exploitation in both physical and digital spaces.