Former police captain Gary James Bond is accused of child pornography

Commander James Bond

Minor was an employee of the Summer Youth Employment Program

Former Gary Police Department Commander James Bond was arrested Thursday morning, September 19, on charges of producing child pornography.

A news release from the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois states that Bond, 52, of Crown Point, is charged with sexual exploitation of a minor, along with receiving and possessing child pornography, according to an indictment filed in the U.S. District Court in Hammond. , Ind.

Indiana State Police conducted the investigation into Bond in July at the request of Gary Police Chief Derrick Cannon.

The suit alleges that while serving as a captain with the Gary Police Department earlier this summer, Bond enticed and coerced a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct and send a visual image to Bond.

The minor was employed by the City of Gary at the time as part of the Summer Youth Employment Program and was assigned to the Gary Police Department. The complaint alleges that the sexual exploitation occurred between July 2, 2024 and July 9, 2024.

According to the complaint, a visual representation of the sexual conduct was received by Bond’s cell phone on July 8, 2024. On July 12, 2024, investigators found an image of child pornography on Bond’s cell phone.

The exploitation charge carries a minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison and a maximum sentence of 30 years. Counting receipts carries a minimum penalty of five years and a maximum of 20 years, while counting possessions carries a maximum penalty of 10 years.

The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois, following a denial by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Indiana.

Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, asked: “If you believe that you or someone you know may have been a victim of James W. Bond, you are encouraged to contact Homeland Security Investigations by call 1-877-4-HSI-TIP.” The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.