SYCAMORE – A DeKalb pastor will head to trial in DeKalb County court in 2020, nearly five years after being indicted in a child pornography case.
Corey Butler, 39, of the 600 block of Kent Road, appeared before Judge Robbin Stuckert on Wednesday with his newest attorney, Gene Ognibene of Clarendon Hills, who asked for more time to confer with his new client before the case heads to trial. Butler’s court appearance was scheduled for 9 a.m., although his lawyer did not appear until 11 a.m.
“We have not formalized our relationship yet,” Ognibene said.
Butler has pleaded not guilty, but his trial has been delayed several times, most recently because Butler wanted to hire a new attorney – his third. He was charged in April 2015 with possession and dissemination of child pornography. If convicted of the most serious charge, dissemination of child pornography, he could face up to 30 years in prison.
He asked a Daily Chronicle reporter Wednesday if they “needed anything from him,” but when asked for a comment, Butler said no and Ognibene quickly ushered his client away.
Stuckert agreed to a final pre-trial hearing, set for Jan. 23, before the case goes to trial, although a trial date has not yet been set. Stuckert lamented that it has been nearly five years have passed since the charges were filed without resolution of the case.
“This is one of the oldest cases I have,” Stuckert said. “We had it set for trial, and I’d like to do that.”
Butler was arrested in April 2015 after a police search of his home uncovered what police say were images of child pornography on a computer in his bedroom, according to DeKalb County court records. He has been free on $1,000 bail since shortly after his arrest. He is barred from contact with minors as a condition of his release.
During questioning by DeKalb police, Butler admitted possessing the material and that he allowed others to access, view and download it, according to court records.
Butler since has blamed pop-up ads on his computer for the images. In 2015, his attorney at the time, Tom Benno, said Butler admitted to visiting a porn site.
Butler is listed as pastor of the Jesus is the Way Christian Center in Sycamore. He has been free since posting $1,000 bail in April 2015, after Stuckert reduced his bond from $101,500 to $10,000. He was also placed on electronic home monitoring and barred from any contact with minors.
Source: The Daily Chronicle
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