Chicago – Attorney General Kwame Raoul charged a Quincy, Illinois woman with sexual assault and manufacturing and disseminating child pornography. 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 child sexual abuse material online.
The Attorney General’s office charged Blake S. Wakefield, 22, in Adams County Circuit Court with three Class X felonies. The charges include one count of predatory criminal sexual assault, punishable by up to 60 years in prison; one count of manufacturing child pornography, punishable by up to 30 years in prison; and one count of disseminating child pornography, punishable by up to 30 years in prison. Sentences are ultimately determined by the court. Wakefield is currently detained in the Adams County Jail, and her next scheduled court date is Oct. 11.
“I am committed to protecting Illinois children and families from those who exploit and abuse innocent children,” Raoul said. “My office’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force will continue to collaborate with law enforcement at all levels and throughout the state to ensure individuals responsible for this abuse are held accountable.”
Raoul’s investigators, along with officers from the Quincy Police Department, conducted a search of Wakefield’s residence in the 400 block of Valley View Road in Quincy on Oct. 9.
The public is reminded that the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
The case will be prosecuted by Raoul’s office with Adams County State’s Attorney Gary L. Farha’s office.
“Our office appreciates the ability to collaborate with the Illinois Attorney’s General office in the investigation of this case and looks forward to continuing to collaborate in the prosecution of this case as it proceeds through the court system,” said Adams County State’s Attorney Farha.
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 Jenifer Peck is prosecuting the case for Raoul’s High Tech Crimes Bureau.
