Chicago – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced his office obtained guilty pleas from two Paris, Illinois men for the 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 pornography online.
Raoul’s office prosecuted Robert E. Porter, 47, and his brother, Toby T. Porter, 39, who both pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography, Class 2 felonies. Edgar County Circuit Court Judge Matthew Sullivan sentenced Robert to 10 years and Toby to five years in prison.
“These guilty pleas ensure both child predators are held accountable and unable to exploit other children in the community,” Raoul said. “My office’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force is committed to continued collaborations with the Edgar County Sheriff’s Department and the Edgar County state’s attorney to keep communities safe.”
Both Porter brothers were arrested in 2023 after Raoul’s investigators, with the assistance of the Edgar County Sheriff’s Department, conducted a search of the brothers’ residence and found evidence of child pornography. They remained in custody at the Edgar County Jail until their plea.
Raoul’s office co-prosecuted this case with Edgar County State’s Attorney Philip Dobelstein’s office.
“Child pornography is not a victimless crime. The Edgar County State's Attorney's Office is committed to keeping children and their families safe from the lasting negative impact the crime can have on them and the community,” said Edgar County State’s Attorney Philip Dobelstein. “We are pleased and proud to have worked with the Attorney's General's office to secure an outcome in this case that makes Edgar County and the state safer as a whole.”
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 2023, reports to the ICAC increased by 46% over 2023.
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 also reminded the public that online child sexual exploitation can be reported 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 Katherine C. Hegarty prosecuted the case for Raoul’s High Tech Crimes Bureau.
