Child Pornography Charge Lands Edwardsville Man in Hot Water
Christopher P. Hill, 54, of Edwardsville, Illinois, was slapped with a federal indictment for knowingly receiving child pornography, U.S. Attorney Stephen R. Wigginton announced.
The indictment, which stems from a grand jury investigation, alleges that Hill downloaded thousands of child pornography images and videos using a computer and peer-to-peer file sharing software between November 2011 and January 2013.
The crime is punishable by up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and supervised release for life. The mandatory minimum sentence is five years.
Hill made his initial appearance on the charge on July 9, 2013, where he was arraigned and pleaded not guilty. Despite the U.S. government seeking to have him held without bond, Hill was released on a $20,000 unsecured bond under certain conditions, including electronic monitoring, no unsupervised contact with anyone under 18, and no access to the internet.
The case is part of the nationwide Project Safe Childhood initiative, launched in 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.
Project Safe Childhood brings together federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.
The investigation is being led by agents from the U.S. Secret Service, Edwardsville Police Department, Greenville Police Department, Illinois State Police, Madison County Sheriff’s Department, and the FBI Cybercrime Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathan D. Stump is handling the case.
Related Federal Cases
- Brandon Tyler Hill, Child Pornography and Identity Theft, CO 2017 · Arkansas
- Peter Joseph Hickel Jr., Attempted Production of Child Pornography,… · Illinois
- NY Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of Child Pornography, NY, 2023 · Tennessee
- John Doe Charged with Producing Child Pornography, Chicago IL, 2024 · Connecticut
- James Troy Martin, Receiving Child Pornography, IL, 2023 · Connecticut
Key Facts
- State: Illinois
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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