Office of the
Illinois Attorney General
Kwame Raoul

Chicago – Attorney General Kwame Raoul charged a Virden, Illinois man with dissemination of 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 Jeffrey A. Bates, 28, in Macoupin County Circuit Court with three counts of Class X felony dissemination of child pornography, each punishable by up to 30 years in prison. Sentences are ultimately determined by the court. Bates is currently detained at the Macoupin County Jail.

“Children who survive exploitation can face a lifetime of trauma, which is why we must help them receive justice by holding the offenders who commit these horrific crimes accountable,” Raoul said. “I will continue to work with state and local authorities to ensure these individuals are unable to victimize other innocent children.” 

Raoul’s investigators, along with officers from the Macoupin County Sheriff’s Office, conducted a search of Bates’ residence in the 100 block of Stelle Ct. in Virden on Aug. 25. Bates was arrested after investigators discovered evidence of child sexual abuse material.

“Thank you to the ICAC Task Force. Without the joint work by this team of investigators these cases would most likely go unsolved,” said Macoupin County Sheriff Shawn Kahl.

Raoul’s office is prosecuting this case with the Macoupin County State’s Attorney’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 2024, reports to the ICAC increased by 11% over 2023.

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 60,000 CyberTips and has been involved in more than 1,000 arrests of sexual predators. Since 2006, the Attorney General’s ICAC Task Force has been involved in more than 2,400 arrests of sexual predators. In 2024, the task force was involved in rescuing more than 45 child victims from ongoing abuse. The task force also has provided internet safety training and education to tens of thousands of parents, teachers, students and 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. 

Senior Assistant Attorney General Shantikumar Kulkarni is prosecuting the case for Raoul’s High Tech Crimes Bureau.