Harvard city clerk charged with possession of child porn

The city clerk in northwest suburban Harvard was arrested Monday and charged with three counts of possessing child pornography.

Authorities began investigating 54-year-old Andrew J. Wells in June after receiving a tip from a McHenry County resident, according to a statement from the McHenry County sheriff’s office.

They later found images of child porn on an electronic device belonging to Wells, sheriff’s police said.

He was arrested Monday and released after posting 10 percent of a $40,000 bond. His next court date is Sept. 27.

Messages left with Harvard’s mayor and city administrator were not immediately returned Tuesday afternoon. Wells is listed as clerk on the city’s website, which contains minutes of City Council meetings kept by Wells dating back to January 2004.

“The City of Harvard is cooperating with the McHenry County sheriff’s office during this investigation,” police said.