Paris brothers sentenced to prison for child pornography crimes

PARIS, Ill. (WCIA) — Two brothers from Paris have been sentenced to prison after they pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography.

The Illinois Attorney General’s Office announced on Friday that Robert Poter, 47, and Toby Poter, 39, pleaded guilty to the Class 2 felony. The brothers were sentenced to 10 and five years in prison, respectively.

“These guilty pleas ensure both child predators are held accountable and unable to exploit other children in the community,” said Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul. “My office’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force is committed to continued collaborations with the Edgar County Sheriff’s Department and the Edgar County state’s attorney to keep communities safe.”

Officials with Raoul’s office said their investigators, with the assistance of the Edgar County Sheriff’s Office, conducted a search of the brothers’ home last year and found evidence of child pornography. Both have been in custody at the Edgar County Jail since then.

The Edgar County State’s Attorney’s Office co-prosecuted the case with Raoul’s office.

“Child pornography is not a victimless crime. The Edgar County State’s Attorney’s Office is committed to keeping children and their families safe from the lasting negative impact the crime can have on them and the community,” said Edgar County States Attorney Philip Dobelstein. “We are pleased and proud to have worked with the Attorney’s General’s office to secure an outcome in this case that makes Edgar County and the state safer as a whole.”

The case is part of Raoul’s work to collaborate with local and federal law enforcement agencies to prosecute those who download and trade child pornography online. His office runs the Illinois Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, which investigates child exploitation and train law enforcement agencies. It’s one of 61 ICAC task forces across the country, and since 2019, Illinois’ has received almost 41,000 tips and arrested more than 720 sexual predators.

Online child sexual exploitation can be reported at www.cybertipline.com

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