Patrick C. Hyde, Child Pornography, Illinois 2022

URBANA, Ill. – A North Dakota man, Patrick C. Hyde, 40, of Minot, had an initial appearance in federal court today after a grand jury returned an indictment charging him with allegedly distributing child pornography earlier this week.

Hyde was previously arrested and charged by criminal complaint on February 8, 2022, near his home in Minot. Hyde has remained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service since his arrest.

The indictment charges Hyde with distributing visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct on three occasions in January 2022.

Hyde appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Eric I. Long in U.S. District Court in Peoria, Illinois, on today's hearing, where he was advised of the charges alleged in the indictment and set the matter for trial on May 9, 2022, before Senior U.S. District Judge Michael M. Mihm. Hyde waived a detention hearing and Judge Long ordered that he remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal Service.

If convicted, each count of distribution of child pornography carries a statutory penalty of at least five years to 20 years in prison.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield and Bismarck field offices, conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elly M. Peirson is representing the government in the prosecution.

Members of the public are reminded that an indictment is merely an accusation; the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdil/pr/north-dakota-man-charged-child-pornography-crimes