An Elgin man who shared a photo of a child younger than 13 engaged in a sexual act has been sentenced to nine years in prison.
Daniel P. Janavich, 56, of the 12N200 block of Tina Trail, pleaded guilty to one count of dissemination of child pornography, a class X felony, in exchange for the prison term, a news release from the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office said.
Janavich was charged after it was determined he sent someone a pornographic photo via cell phone that depicted a girl he knew was under the age of 13 “engaged in an act of sexual conduct,” the release said. The incident, investigated by the Kane County Child Exploitation Unit, occurred Oct. 25, 2023.
Janavich will receive 193 days’ credit for the time he served in the Kane County jail and is eligible for day-for-day sentencing, the release said. After his release from prison, he will be required to register for life as a sexual offender per state law.
“Child pornography is not a victimless crime,” Assistant State’s Attorney Ken Hudson said in a statement. “Children depicted in sexually compromising images and videos are victimized every time someone views them, even decades later.”