New Child Pornography Charges For Ex-Rep. Farnham

CHICAGO (AP) -- A former Illinois state representative already under home confinement faces additional child pornography charges under a federal grand jury's indictment, federal officials announced Friday.

Keith Farnham, 66, was charged in a criminal complaint last month with one count of possession of child pornography. A federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment on Thursday and the Elgin man was charged with one count each of possessing child pornography involving a minor under age 12, one count of receiving child pornography and two counts of transporting child pornography.

The indictment seeks forfeiture of a computer hard drive seized at Farnham's house in March when federal search warrants were executed.

Farnham's attorney, Terry Ekl, didn't immediately return a message Friday.

He has said that Farnham has serious health issues and that he needs a lung transplant. Farnham appeared to be wearing a portable oxygen tank at an earlier court date.

In a statement, the U.S. attorney's office in Chicago said Farnham "will be arraigned on a date yet to be determined."

The initial criminal complaint alleged that Farnham possessed videos depicting child pornography on a computer. The document also provided graphic details about images allegedly sought and traded by Farnham online. Some allegedly showed children under 10 years old.

Farnham, a legislator since 2009, resigned from the General Assembly in March.

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