Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced a McHenry County man prosecuted by his office was sentenced to six years in prison for reproducing child pornography and four years in prison for possessing child pornography.
David P. Stone, 31, of McHenry, Illinois, was sentenced on Wednesday by McHenry County Circuit Court Judge James Cowlin after pleading guilty to one Class X felony count of reproduction of child pornography and one Class 2 felony count of possession of child pornography.
“Child pornography is a reprehensible crime, and the individuals who reproduce these horrific images must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” Raoul said. “This sentencing highlights the vital efforts of my Crimes Against Children Task Force, which works tirelessly to identify and track down individuals who assault and exploit children. I will continue to partner with local law enforcement to locate and hold these offenders accountable.”
Stone was arrested and prosecuted as part of Attorney General Raoul’s ongoing efforts to apprehend offenders who download and trade child pornography online. Raoul’s investigators, with the assistance of the McHenry Police Department and the McHenry County state’s attorney’s office, searched a residence in McHenry and arrested Stone after evidence of alleged child pornography was discovered.
“Child pornography and other offenses like it are not victimless crimes and have a lasting negative impact on those depicted as well as the community as a whole,” said McHenry County State’s Attorney Patrick D. Kenneally.“We are pleased and proud to have worked with the Attorney General’s office to secure an outcome in this case that makes McHenry County safer.”
The case is part of Attorney General Raoul’s work to investigate and prosecute 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 2021, reports to the ICAC increased by 42% over 2020.
Illinois’ ICAC Task Force is one of 61 ICAC Task Forces throughout the country and is comprised of a network of more than 285 local, county, state and federal law enforcement agencies. Since 2019, the Attorney General's ICAC Task Force has received more than 24,100 CyberTips and has been involved in more than 408 arrests of sexual predators. Since 2006, the Attorney General’s ICAC Task Force has been involved in more than 1,840 arrests of sexual predators. The task force also has provided internet safety training and education to more than 962,779 parents, teachers and students, in addition to more than 23,250 law enforcement professionals.
Raoul reminds the public that online child sexual exploitation can be reported at www.cybertipline.com and child abuse can be reported at dcfsonlinereporting.dcfs.illinois.gov. In addition, local child advocacy centers can be found here: www.childrensadvocacycentersofillinois.org.
Deputy Bureau Chief Shannon O'Brien handled the case for Raoul’s High Tech Crimes Bureau.
