Springfield – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced that a Champaign, Illinois man pleaded guilty to possessing 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 prosecuted Bryan A. Clark, 50, who pleaded guilty in Champaign County Circuit Court to the possession of child pornography, a Class 2 felony. Clark was sentenced to 180 days in the Champaign County Jail and four years of sex offender probation. Additionally, Clark is prohibited from having contact with children under 18 years of age and will have to register as a sex offender for life.
“Child pornography is not a victimless crime, and I am pleased that this predator is being held accountable for victimizing innocent children,” Raoul said. “I am committed to holding accountable offenders who prey on our children, and my office will continue to partner with local law enforcement agencies to protect communities throughout Illinois.”
Clark was arrested and charged in January 2022 after Raoul’s investigators and the Champaign Police Department discovered evidence of child pornography while searching a residence in the 1600 block of West Bradley Ave. in Champaign.
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 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 30,400 CyberTips and has been involved in more than 485 arrests of sexual predators. Since 2006, the Attorney General’s ICAC Task Force has been involved in more than 1,958 arrests of sexual predators. The task force also has provided internet safety training and education to more than 996,644 parents, teachers and students, in addition to more than 23,844 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 at www.childrensadvocacycentersofillinois.org.
