Alton Man Sentenced for Child Pornography Possession

ALTON, ILLINOIS – In a chilling turn of justice, James Allen Ridder, a 34-year-old resident of Alton, Illinois, has been sentenced to ten years in federal prison for the heinous crime of possessing child pornography. The sentence, handed down by United States Attorney Donald S. Boyce for the Southern District of Illinois, also includes ten years’ supervised release and a $100 special assessment.

Ridder’s conviction stems from his guilty plea regarding still images and video images depicting two minors, aged 15 and 17. Tragically, both victims were known to Ridder, making the case even more disturbing.

This prosecution is a part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006. The program aims to combat the rising tide of child sexual exploitation and abuse by coordinating federal, state, and local efforts to locate, apprehend, and prosecute such predators while identifying and rescuing victims. More information on Project Safe Childhood can be found at www.usdoj.gov/psc and internet safety education resources are available at www.usdoj.gov/psc/resources.

The Madison County Sheriff’s Office, with a detective from the Federal Bureau of Investigations Metro East Cybercrime Task Force, conducted the investigation into Ridder. Assistant United States Attorneys Ali Summers and Stephen Clark were responsible for the prosecution.

Ridder’s sentence serves as a stark reminder of the severity with which child pornography offenses are treated in federal court, sending a clear message that such crimes will not be tolerated.

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