Chicago – Attorney General Kwame Raoul charged a Decatur, Illinois man with dissemination of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). The case is part of Raoul’s ongoing work, in collaboration with federal law enforcement agencies and local law enforcement officials throughout Illinois, to apprehend offenders who download and trade CSAM online.
The Attorney General’s office charged Charles Bolsen, 64, in Macon County Circuit Court with two counts of dissemination of child pornography of a victim under 13 years old, Class X felonies each punishable by up to 30 years in prison; and eight counts of possession of child pornography of a victim under 13 years old, Class 2 felonies each punishable by up to seven years in prison. Sentences must be served consecutively and are ultimately determined by the court. Bolson is detained at the Macon County jail. His next court date is Sept. 4.
“We must help children who survive exploitation receive justice by holding the offenders who commit these horrific crimes accountable,” Raoul said. “I will continue to work with state and local authorities to ensure these individuals are unable to victimize other innocent children.”
Raoul’s investigators, along with officers from the Decatur Police Department and the Macon County Sheriff’s Office, conducted a search of Bolsen’s residence in the 1900 block of Evergreen Drive in Decatur on July 2 and discovered evidence of child pornography. Raoul’s office immediately conducted an investigation of discovered evidence. Bolson was arrested July 24.
Raoul’s office is co-prosecuting this case with the Macon County State’s Attorney’s office.
The public is reminded that the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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 2023, reports to the ICAC increased by 46% over 2022.
Illinois’ ICAC Task Force is one of 61 ICAC task forces throughout the country and is comprised of a network of more than 185 local, county, state and federal law enforcement agencies. Since 2019, the Attorney General’s ICAC Task Force has received more than 46,150 CyberTips and has been involved in more than 755 arrests of sexual predators. Since 2006, the Attorney General’s ICAC Task Force has been involved in more than 2,145 arrests of sexual predators. The task force also has provided internet safety training and education to tens of thousands of parents, teachers, students and law enforcement professionals.
Attorney General Raoul is reminding the public that child sexual exploitation can be reported online at cybertipline.com and child abuse at dcfsonlinereporting.dcfs.illinois.gov. In addition, local child advocacy centers can be found at childrensadvocacycentersofillinois.org.
Assistant Attorney General Nicole Bartell is prosecuting the case for Raoul’s High Tech Crimes Bureau.
