Zion Woman Charged After Investigators Say Child Sexual Abuse Material Was Found on Her Phone

ZION, Ill. — A 25-year-old Zion woman is facing felony charges following a cybercrime investigation that authorities say uncovered child sexual abuse material on her cellphone.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office said its Cybercrime Detectives began investigating after receiving information that images and videos involving children were allegedly being shared from an electronic device connected to a residence in Zion.

The investigation reportedly originated with a cybertip submitted to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children in February. The tip involved two videos authorities said depicted the sexual abuse of a young child.

Investigators eventually traced the activity to a residence in the 1700 block of Joppa Avenue.

Authorities executed a search warrant at the home Thursday with assistance from electronic-detection K9s and the Illinois Attorney General’s Office. During the search, investigators seized a Motorola cellphone belonging to 25-year-old Rebekah Denise Smith.

Authorities said a forensic examination of the phone connected the device to material identified during the investigation. Investigators also allegedly discovered an additional image involving children on the phone.

During questioning, prosecutors said Smith acknowledged participating in a Telegram group where she searched for what she described as “freaky stuff.” She allegedly admitted receiving child sexual abuse material on her phone before deleting it approximately two days later.

Smith reportedly denied recognizing the videos associated with the original cybertip and denied previously seeing another image investigators said was recovered from her phone.

Authorities said Smith lives with her 3-year-old son and shares the residence with other family members, including another young child. Smith denied harming her son.

The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office approved two counts of possession of child pornography, both Class 2 felonies.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office said its Internet Crimes Against Children Team continues working to identify and investigate individuals suspected of exploiting children online.

Smith is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

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