David E. Auteberry, Child Sex Exploitation, Illinois 2014

Urbana, IL – In a shocking turn of events, a Villa Grove man has been sentenced to 17 ½ years in prison for sexually exploiting multiple children. David E. Auteberry, 54, was handed the sentence by U.S. District Judge Colin S. Bruce.

Auteberry was arrested on May 2, 2014, and has been in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service since his arrest. The 54-year-old man posed as a teenage boy on a popular social networking website and coerced the minors to engage in sexually explicit conduct. He also forced them to produce images of the explicit conduct.

The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The project is led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section.

Auteberry pleaded guilty on September 16, 2014, to four counts of sexual exploitation of a minor and agreed to the forfeiture of all of his computer media. He will also have to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life and remain on supervised release for an additional 10 years after completing his prison sentence.

The investigation was carried out by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, while Assistant U.S. Attorney Elly Peirson handled the prosecution.

The victims of Auteberry’s heinous crimes will likely never be the same. The sentencing is a step in the right direction, but it does not undo the harm that has been done. It is a reminder that child exploitation is a serious issue that requires the attention and action of law enforcement agencies and the community at large.

Auteberry’s case is a stark reminder of the dangers of the internet and the importance of online safety. It is crucial for parents, guardians, and children to be aware of the potential risks and take necessary precautions to protect themselves from predators like Auteberry.

As the Grimy Times continues to investigate and report on cases like Auteberry’s, we urge the community to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the authorities.

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