Judge rejects lowering $5 million bond for Joliet child porn defendant

A Joliet couple will remain jailed following their arrest in a child pornography case that prosecutors said involves texts from the husband to his wife about wanting to sexually assault, torture and kill minors.

On Monday, Judge Dave Carlson denied lowering a $5 million bond for Lauren Russell, 27, who was arrested Feb. 1 with her husband, Justin Russell, 33, both of Joliet, on child pornography charges.

Justin Russell’s attorney, Robert Kerr, elected to have a bond reduction hearing at another date following Carlson’s decision on his client’s wife’s bond.

At the outset of the hearing, Lauren Russell’s attorney, Gal Pissetzky, said her bond was “extremely excessive,” she was not a flight risk and did not pose a danger to the community.

Will County Assistant State’s Attorney Tom Slazyk disagreed.

“This not the normal child porn case,” Slazyk said.

Slazyk looked back into the gallery to make sure no children were present as he read to Carlson text messages exchanged between Justin and Lauren Russell where Justin talked about wanting to sexually assault, torture and kill minors, and Lauren about wanting to engage in sex acts with minors.

Slazyk said he believed the couple were a danger to society based on the child pornography and electronic communications that Will County Sheriff’s detectives have recovered thus far.

Pissetzky contended Lauren Russell was manipulated and controlled by her husband and suggested it was her husband driving the conversations between the two.

“Lauren without Justin is not a danger to the community,” Pissetzky said.

Carlson denied Pissetzky’s motion to lower Lauren Russell’s bond without prejudice, which allows her to make the same motion again in the future if she wishes.

Prosecutors charged the couple with possessing digital videos of child pornography on a hard drive.

The investigation that led to the arrest of the Russells began Dec. 16 when sheriff’s detectives received a tip from the Illinois Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, according to the Will County Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff’s detectives began a thorough investigation of the Russells “sharing and uploading multiple images and videos of child pornography,” police said.

Detectives searched the Russell’s residence, obtained electronic devices and additional evidence for examination and then secured a warrant for the couple’s arrest on Jan. 28.