Office of the
Illinois Attorney General
Kwame Raoul

Additional Charges Include Possession of Methamphetamine 

Chicago – Attorney General Kwame Raoul charged a Palmyra, Illinois man for allegedly disseminating and possessing child sexual abuse material. 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 child sexual abuse material online.

The Attorney General’s office charged Michael Upton, 34, in Macoupin County Circuit Court with two counts of dissemination of child pornography, each Class X felonies punishable by up to 30 years in prison; and 10 counts of possession of child pornography, each Class 2 felonies punishable by up to seven years in prison. Upton was also charged with one count of Class 3 possession of methamphetamine, a felony punishable by up to five years in prison. Sentences are ultimately determined by the court. Upton is being held at the Macoupin County Jail, and his next scheduled court date is Jan. 20.

“Child exploitation leaves life-long scars for survivors and their families, which is why it is essential to hold everyone who is responsible for this horrific trauma accountable,” Raoul said. “My office’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force works tirelessly with local law enforcement track down individuals who assault and exploit children.”

Raoul’s investigators, along with officers from the Palmyra Police Department and Macoupin County Sheriff’s Department, conducted a search of Upton’s residence in the 200 block of East Oak Street in Palmyra. Upton was arrested after evidence of child sexual abuse material was found.  

Raoul’s office is prosecuting the case with Macoupin State’s Attorney Jordan Garrison’s office.

The public is reminded that the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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 sexual abuse material, from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Over the last several years, CyberTipline reports have steadily increased. In 2025, reports to the ICAC Task Force increased by 45% over 2024.

Illinois’ ICAC Task Force is one of 61 ICAC task forces throughout the country and is comprised of a network of more than 200 local, county, state and federal law enforcement agencies. Since 2019, the Attorney General’s ICAC Task Force has received more than 76,500 CyberTips and has been involved in more than 1,800 arrests of sexual predators. Since 2006, the Attorney General’s ICAC Task Force has been involved in more than 2,500 arrests of sexual predators. In 2025, the task force was involved in rescuing more than 30 child victims from ongoing abuse. The task force also has provided internet safety training and education to over 1 million parents, teachers, students and more than 25,000 law enforcement professionals.

Attorney General Raoul is reminding the public that child sexual exploitation can be reported online at cybertipline.com and child abuse at dcfsonlinereporting.dcfs.illinois.gov. In addition, local child advocacy centers can be found at childrensadvocacycentersofillinois.org

Assistant Attorney General David Sternau is prosecuting the case for Raoul’s High Tech Crimes Bureau.