Three years for one photo.....

[Lulu2]

A 22-year-old Joliet man who used a camera on a wireless phone to snap a picture of himself inappropriately touching his partially clothed, teen-age girlfriend was sentenced Wednesday to three years in prison.

Circuit Judge Amy Bertani-Tomczak sentenced Steven S. Bodemuller, of 314 N. Larkin Ave., Joliet. Bodemuller entered a blind plead of guilty to one count of possession of child pornography Oct. 30.

The phone Bodemuller used to take the pornographic picture in April belonged to the victim's father. The father, who discovered the photo while looking through images on his phone, reported the incident to Joliet police. Charges were filed in July.

Possession of child pornography is a Class 3 felony that carries a sentence of two to five years in prison.

The charge against Bodemuller alleged that he possessed a digital photograph of a child he knew to be under 18 engaged in an act of sexual penetration.

The defendant, who was 21 when the picture was taken, told police the image was for his and his girlfriend's private enjoyment.

Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow said the relationship between the victim and the defendant had no bearing on the prosecution of this case by his computer crimes unit.

"It doesn't matter whether the relationship was approved by the girl's parents or whether she consented to appear in the picture," Glasgow said. "Whether the victim realizes it or not, she was exploited by this man. It is illegal to possess a picture of someone under 18 engaged in an act of sexual penetration. My heart goes out to the father who discovered the explicit photograph of his own daughter."

++++++++++++++++ Will he be a better man after spending 3 years in the slammer for enjoying a relationship APPROVED BY THE GIRL'S PARENTS? In some states here, I believe a 16-year old is considered an adult and can marry without parental consent.

What do you think?

[Marie5656]

Yep..lets get these "evil" predators off the street. I wonder though, if her parents approved, then why did the dad turn them in?.