Chicago – Attorney General Kwame Raoul charged a Pinckneyville, 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 Larry W. Morrison, 56, in Perry County Circuit Court with three counts of Class 1 felony possession of child pornography, each punishable by up to 15 years in prison, and two counts of Class 3 felony possession of child pornography, each punishable by up to five years in prison. Sentences are ultimately determined by the court. Morrison is currently detained at the Perry County Jail.
“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 Perry County Sheriff's Office, conducted a search of Morrison’s residence in the 3000 block of Wolf Road in Pinckneyville on June 20 and arrested Morrison when evidence of child pornography was discovered.
Attorney General Raoul’s office is prosecuting the case with Perry County State’s Attorney David Searby Jr.
“I greatly appreciate the dedication and efforts of the staff of the Attorney General’s office in investigating and working these types of cases with my office,” Searby said. “The relationships that have been developed through these continued efforts in past and current cases and through Perry County’s active participation in the Sexual Incident Response Team (SIRT) definitely benefit the citizens of Perry County.”
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 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 Vanessa Minson is prosecuting the case on behalf of Raoul’s office.
