February 25, 2025
Crime & Courts

North Aurora man arrested after child pornography investigation

Investigators found photos, videos on cell phones, tablets

By KANE COUNTY

Michael R. Pauls, 48, of the 600 block of Hammer Lane, North Aurora, was arrested Dec. 3 and charged with two Class 2 felony counts of possession of a child pornography video and two Class 3 felony counts of possession of a child pornography photo. (Photo provided)

NORTH AURORA – A North Aurora man has been charged with four counts of child pornography after a months-long investigation.

According to a news release from the North Aurora Police Department, Michael R. Pauls, 48, of the 600 block of Hammer Lane, North Aurora, was arrested Dec. 3 and charged with two Class 2 felony counts of possession of a child pornography video and two Class 3 felony counts of possession of a child pornography photo.

The release states that the investigation began on June 25 with a cyber tip from an email provider to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that an email account contained suspected child pornography.

The case was sent to the Illinois Attorney General’s office and then to the Aurora Police Department after the internet protocol address of the user showed to be in the Aurora area.

After Aurora Police investigators determined that the email account belonged to Pauls in North Aurora, the case was transferred to North Aurora Police on Nov. 17, the release stated.

North Aurora Police obtained a search warrant for Pauls’ home and, with the assistance of the Kane County Sheriff’s Office and Will County State’s Attorney’s Office, executed the search on Dec. 3,

Investigators found several electronic devices, including cellular phones, tablets, and laptops which revealed two pornographic videos and two pornographic photos of female children under the age of 18.

Pauls was arrested and transported to the North Aurora Police Department. Forensic examination of the devices is ongoing, with the assistance of the Illinois Attorney General’s High Tech Crimes Bureau, the release stated.

Pauls appeared at a remote bond hearing on Dec. 5, where a judge set his bond at $75,000, with 10% to apply for bail. He was transported to the Kane County Adult Justice Center where he later posted $7,500 and was released with the conditions to have no contact with anyone under the age of 13 and to refrain from the use of social media where children are present, the release stated.

He is scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 28 at the Kane County Judicial Center.