A retired Illinois State Police trooper who admitted viewing child pornography on a state-issued laptop computer while sitting in his squad car supposedly looking for speeding motorists was formally sentenced today to 60 days in the DuPage County Jail and must register as a sex offender for the rest of his life, officials said.Juan Rodriguez, 51, of Glen Ellyn, a 27-year veteran of the Illinois State Police, pleaded guilty in June to official misconduct and possession of child pornography.
As part of his plea, Judge George Bakalis ordered Rodriguez to 30 months of sex offender probration and also ordered him to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life, officials said. He also must pay $2,000 in fines, officials said.
With day-for-day good time credit and for days already served in jail, Rodriguez could serve as few as 26 days, officials said. He was ordered today to report to the jail by 6 p.m. Monday, DuPage County State's Attorney's officials said.
Rodriguez's name first appeared in connection with child pornography during a 2003 federal investigation into child pornography sites, and then again in 2008 when another federal investigation showed him viewing child pornography sites and using a personal credit card to pay $99 to join a website.
The investigation led back to Rodriguez’s state-issued laptop, which he used while he was on duty for Illinois State Police District 15, the tollway division. He was assigned to an overtime detail designed to run traffic patrols.
Rodriguez retired from the state police before he was charged in 2009, but was aware of the investigation.
Rodriguez did comment in court today. He has no previous criminal record and faced up to five years in prison. Officials said he is expected to lose his pension because of the felony conviction.
