Crystal Lake Man Sentenced To 10 Years For Soliciting Child Sex Abuse Material

CRYSTAL LAKE, IL — A Crystal Lake man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty in two separate cases involving the solicitation of child sex abuse material, according to the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office.

David Kurth, 32, was sentenced in McHenry County Court on Wednesday to six years in prison in one case and four years in a second case after pleading guilty to two counts of solicitation of child sex abuse material, prosecutors said.

The charges stemmed from an investigation launched by the Crystal Lake Police Department after authorities received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, prosecutors said.

Investigators traced an uploaded file containing child sex abuse material to Kurth’s Crystal Lake residence. During the investigation, detectives examined Kurth’s electronic devices and online Dropbox records, which allegedly revealed communications with two minors — one in Massachusetts and another in New Jersey, according to the news release.

According to prosecutors, both minors told investigators they met Kurth online and that he persuaded them to send child sex abuse material despite knowing they were underage.

Upon his release from prison, Kurth will serve a term of mandatory supervised release ranging from three years to natural life and will be required to register as a sex offender for the remainder of his life.

“Crimes involving the exploitation of children are among the most disturbing offenses our office prosecutes,” McHenry County State’s Attorney Randi Freese said in a statement. “Those who seek out or solicit child sexual abuse material fuel the continued victimization of innocent children.”

Freese said her office will continue working with law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute crimes involving child exploitation.