Chicago – Attorney General Kwame Raoul charged a Vermont, Illinois man with possession of 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 pornography online.
The Attorney General’s office charged Rodney G. Shaffer, 58, in Fulton County Circuit Court on Friday with three counts of possession of child pornography involving a minor under the age of 13, Class 2 felonies each punishable by up to seven years in prison. Shaffer is currently detained at the Fulton County Jail, and his next court date is scheduled for Feb. 2, 2024.
“Survivors of child exploitation and abuse face a lifetime of healing from the trauma they experience,” Raoul said. “My office will continue to collaborate with state’s attorneys and law enforcement agencies to hold individuals who prey on and exploit young children accountable.”
Raoul’s investigators, along with officers from the Fulton County Sheriff's Office and Illinois State Police, conducted a search of Shaffer’s residence in the 200 block of West Seventh Street in Vermont on Jan. 11 and arrested Shaffer when evidence of child pornography was discovered.
“Fulton County Sheriff’s Deputies assisted the Attorney General’s Office in the search of Rodney G. Shaffer’s property in Vermont, IL, and Shaffer’s subsequent arrest,” said Fulton County Sheriff Jon Webb. “The Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the law enforcement officers from the Attorney General’s Office for their professionalism and dedication in investigating offenders who possess child pornography.”
“Illinois State Police special agents continuously investigate cases where there is evidence of child sexual abuse and we will do everything in our power to arrest sexual predators and protect our children and youth,” said Illinois State Police Director Brendan F. Kelly.
Raoul’s office will co-prosecute this case with Fulton County State’s Attorney Justin Jochums office.
The public is reminded that the defendant is 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 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. Since 2019, the Attorney General’s ICAC Task Force has received more than 38,500 CyberTips and has been involved in more than 620 arrests of sexual predators. Since 2006, the Attorney General’s ICAC Task Force has been involved in more than 2,010 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 www.cybertipline.com and child abuse at dcfsonlinereporting.dcfs.illinois.gov. In addition, local child advocacy centers can be found at www.childrensadvocacycentersofillinois.org.
Assistant Attorney General Nicole Bartell is prosecuting the case on behalf of Raoul’s High Tech Crimes Bureau.
