CHICAGO (AP) — A judge in Keith Farnham’s child pornography case is taking the rare step of moving the ex-Illinois lawmaker’s sentencing from Chicago’s federal courthouse to a venue closer to the Democrat’s suburban home.
Judge Edmond Chang agreed at a Monday hearing that the former state representative’s deteriorating mental and physical health makes it difficult for him to travel from his Elgin home. So he’ll be sentenced in a state courthouse two miles from his residence.
The 67-year-old faces between five and 20 years in prison for transporting child pornography. Some images were of 6-month-old children.
The defense says lung disease is likely to kill Farnham within four months. But Chang wouldn’t rule on a request to let Farnham stay under house arrest after sentencing. He says he’ll decide that issue Thursday.