Elmhurst Resident Paul Murphy Guilty on 15 Counts of Aggravated Possession of Child Pornography

Elmhurst resident Paul F. Murphy was found guilty of 15 counts of aggravated by a DuPage County judge Wednesday morning.

Last year, Elmhurst Police began an investigation after Officer Steve Mandat discovered files containing child pornography being shared with an Elmhurst internet address. Mandat and other officers traced the internet address to 954 N. York St., a mixed-use business development that includes a car wash, laundromat and two small apartments, one in which Murphy lived.

In February, Mandat and other officers obtained a warrant and searched the computers on the premises. In Murphy’s apartment, investigators discovered thumb-drives and two CD-Roms that contained hundreds of images and videos of child pornography and child erotica. A search of a closet yielded printed directions on downloading and uploading pornography to the internet.

Police also discovered children’s underwear that contained traces of semen.

On Tuesday, Murphy waived his right to a jury trial and opted for a bench trial in front of Judge Robert Kleeman.

In a videotaped interview alluded to by Assistant State’s Attorney William Wu, Murphy told police he found the drives and discs in the laundromat, where he worked part-time. Brian Jacobs, a senior DuPage County public defender, argued that Murphy was unaware of the images and videos on the electronic storage devices.

Jacobs also argued that it was not illegal for Murphy to own children’s underwear. He said for most people it is distasteful to use children’s underwear for masturbation, it is not illegal and is prejudicial against his client.

“It might make normal people say ‘yuck,’ but it is not against the law,” Jacobs said.

But Wu argued the underwear was relevant to building the case against Murphy, because its use centered on a sexual activity.

Jacobs also argued that more people than Murphy had access to the internet at that street address. He said there were three computers on the property hooked up to the wireless router, and more than one person had access to them.

Property owner Jeff Juliano, who employed Murphy at his car wash and laundromat, testified his businesses shared the internet service with Murphy, who resided in an apartment on the back of the property. Police and computer experts examined the computers used by Juliano and found no trace of child pornography.

Because Murphy lived in an apartment on Juliano’s property, Jacobs argued that people other than Murphy had keys and access to the studio apartment. Juliano testified that he and his business partner each had a key to Murphy’s apartment, but only used it a couple of times a year for maintenance calls. He testified that he and his partner never entered the property without Murphy being present.

Despite Jacobs’ efforts, Kleeman found Murphy guilty on all counts on Wednesday, the second day of the trial.

Murphy will be sentenced Jan. 6.

Aggravated possession of child pornography is a Class 2 felony, which carries a sentence of up to seven years in prison, said Paul Darrah, a spokesman for the DuPage County state’s attorney’s office.