An Illinois man is facing criminal charges after being accused of making child pornography. The 31-year-old man has been arraigned on a single sex crime charge and is being held without bond until a trial date is set. He has been charged with production of child pornography from incidents said to have occurred in 2010 and 2011.
The man allegedly took photos of himself while engaged in apparent sex acts with a child. He is also accused of taking pictures of the minor’s genitalia. There has been no trial date set yet. If the man is convicted of the sex crime charge, he could face between 15 and 30 years in prison and fines of up to $250,000, together with a minimum of five years of parole.
Two law enforcement branches investigated this case, including the FBI and a local police department. This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide program under the supervision of the federal Department of Justice. There has been no word on how authorities may have been involved in the man’s apprehension or how the alleged pornography was discovered.
An Illinois sex crime conviction can send someone to prison for a very long time. However, it can also affect someone’s relationships with family and friends and also detrimentally impact their current employment or future prospects. In a case like this one, the man may benefit by focusing on his criminal defense so he can fight the charges against him. He may have an uphill legal battle ahead of him, so knowing his legal rights can only help him as he seeks to clear his name and achieve the best possible result.
Source: STLToday.com, “Collinsville man charged with making child porn,” Oct. 25, 2012