Published in the Interest of the Staunton Community for Over 143 Years
Published in the Interest of the Staunton Community for Over 143 Years
Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced that, on Oct. 5, the Attorney General’s office charged a Macoupin County man, Robert L. Jones, 45, with five counts of dissemination of child pornography of a child under 13 years old which is punishable by up to 30 years in prison.
Raoul’s investigators, with the assistance of the Gillespie Police Department and Macoupin County Sherrif’s Department, searched Jones’ home on the 700 block of South Street in Gillespie on Tuesday, Oct. 3, and arrested him due to evidence of child pornography on his electronic device and social media accounts.
“Survivors of child exploitation are revictimized every single time an individual trades or downloads these horrific images or videos.” Raoul stated.
Jones is detained at the Macoupin County Jail and his next court date is scheduled for Oct. 30.
The public is reminded that the defendant is pesumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Attorney General Raoul also reminded the public that online child sexual exploitation can be reported at http://www.cybertipline.com, and child abuse can be reported at dcfsonlinereporting.dcfs.illinois.gov. In addition, local child advocacy centers can be found at http://www.childrensadvocacycentersofillinois.org.
The case is part of Attorney General Raoul’s work to investigate and prosocute child pornographers in Illinois. Raoul’s office, with a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, runs the Illinois Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force that investigates child exploitation crimes and trains law enforcement agencies. The task force receives CyberTips, or online reports of child pornography, from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Over the last several years, CyberTipline reports have steadily increased. In 2022, reports to the ICAC increased by 26% over 2021.
Illinois’ ICAC Task Force is one of 61 ICAC Task Forces throughout the country and is comprised of a network of more than 175 local, county, state and federal law enforcement agencies.
Reader Comments(0)