In November of 2018, Lake County Sheriff’s Detectives received information Joshua D. Howard, 20, of the 38800 block of Chicago Avenue, Wadsworth, was suspected of having a sexual relationship with a juvenile girl.

Detectives conducted an extensive investigation and evidence recovered during their investigation indicates not only did Howard have the sexual relationship with the juvenile, he video/audio recorded being engaged in sexual acts with the juvenile.

On December 21, 2018, Sheriff’s Detectives conducted a search warrant at Howard’s residence.  Computer and cellular electronics were seized during the search warrant.  Howard was arrested and subsequently charged with:

Manufacturing Child Pornography (Class X Felony) 

Criminal Sexual Abuse (Class A Misdemeanor)

Howard remains held at the Lake County Jail on $750,000.00 bail.  He is next due in court on January 16, 2019, at 1:30PM in Courtroom T110.

The investigation into Howard is ongoing and Sheriff’s Detectives encourage anyone with information about Howard to contact them at 847-377-4245.

Sheriff Idleburg reminds the public the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.