Crime & Safety

Downers Grove Family Doctor Facing Multiple Child Porn Charges

Family physician was under investigation for several months after local cops receive tip regarding possible distribution and possession of child porn in Downers Grove, authorities say.


Police arrested a Downers Grove physician on charges of dissemination and possession of child pornography.

Edward J. McMenamin, 67, of the 4200 block of Saratoga, is facing five counts of dissemination of child pornography, each a Class X felony, and 12 Class 2 felony charges of possession of child pornography, the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s office announced.

McMenamin was arrested outside of his home on Thursday, the culmination of a months long investigation. Police said they were led to McMenamin after receiving a tip earlier this year from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children regarding the possible dissemination and possession of child pornography in Downers Grove.

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A three-pronged investigation involving local police, the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office and the Department of Homeland Security was initiated. Authorities were led to McMenamin, who was allegedly found with numerous images of videos of child pornography.

A $500,000 arrest warrant was issued for the Downers Grove physician on Thursday. At about 5:30 p.m., McMeniman was taken into custody outside his home without incident, police said.

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McMenamin appeared before DuPage County Judge Elizabeth Sexton on Friday, where bail was set at $500,000. He is currently being held in the DuPage County Jail in lieu of bond.

DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert J. Berlin called the charges “very serious” and said the doctor would be prosecuted “to the fullest extent of the law.”

“Child pornography is not a victimless crime,” Berlin said in a news advisory. “Any image or video depicting child pornography represents yet another young victim who had their innocence stolen from them just to satisfy the disgusting desires of sexual deviants.

Downers Grove Police Chief Robert Porter described the investigation against the physician as a “most difficult and disturbing case.”

McMenamin is due back in court on July 7 in front of Judge Blanche Hille Fawell.  Additional conditions for McMenamin should he be able to post bond, include no contact with children under 18 years of age and no computer or Internet access, the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s office said.

McMenamin is affiliated with Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital and Advocate Health Care. He has been practicing family medicine for over 30 years and has an office in Downers Grove, according to online records.



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