Chicago – Attorney General Kwame Raoul charged a Manteno, 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 Nicholas Sharp, 38, in Kankakee County Circuit Court with 10 counts of possession of child pornography, Class 2 felonies each punishable by up to seven years in prison. Sharp is currently detained at Kankakee County Jail, and his next court date is scheduled for Feb. 29.
“These charges highlight the importance of my office’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force in holding alleged perpetrators accountable for exploiting children,” Raoul said. “I will continue to partner with law enforcement to investigate these heinous crimes.”
Raoul’s investigators, along with officers from the Kankakee County Sheriff’s Office, conducted a search of Sharp’s residence in the 10000 block of N State Route 50 in Manteno on Feb. 26. Sharp was arrested after investigators found evidence of child pornography. The Tri-County Stolen Auto Task Force and Kankakee County Animal Control also provided support. “In yesterday’s warrant execution, the seamless cooperation and collaboration among law enforcement agencies exemplified the dedication to safeguarding our communities,” said Kankakee County Sheriff Mike Downey. “Through their coordinated efforts, culminating in the apprehension of this defendant on 10 counts of possessing child pornography, agents from the Illinois Attorney General’s office, alongside local investigators, have demonstrated the power of unified action in combating heinous crimes and protecting the most vulnerable among us.”
The Attorney General’s office is co-prosecuting the case with Kankakee State’s Attorney Jim Rowe’s 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 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 40,900 CyberTips and has been involved in more than 720 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 https://report.cybertip.org/and child abuse at dcfsonlinereporting.dcfs.illinois.gov. In addition, local child advocacy centers can be found at childrensadvocacycentersofillinois.org.
Senior Assistant Attorney General Shantikumar Kulkarni is prosecuting the case for Raoul’s High Tech Crimes Bureau.
