McHenry Man Gets Prison Time In Child Porn Case

MCHENRY COUNTY, IL — A 31-year-old McHenry man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison on child porn and reproducing child porn charges.

David P. Stone pleaded guilty to the felony counts before he was sentenced Wednesday by McHenry County Circuit Court Judge James Cowlin. Cowlin sentenced him to six years in prison on the reproduction of child pornography charge and four years in prison on the possessing child porn charge.

“Child pornography is a reprehensible crime, and the individuals who reproduce these horrific images must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” said Attorney General Kwame Raoul. “This sentencing highlights the vital efforts of my Crimes Against Children Task Force, which works tirelessly to identify and track down individuals who assault and exploit children. I will continue to partner with local law enforcement to locate and hold these offenders accountable.”

Stone was arrested and prosecuted as part of Attorney General Raoul’s ongoing efforts to apprehend offenders who download and trade child pornography online. Raoul’s investigators, with the assistance of the McHenry Police Department and the McHenry County state’s attorney’s office, searched a residence in McHenry and arrested Stone after evidence of alleged child pornography was discovered, according to a news release from the state's attorney general office.

“Child pornography and other offenses like it are not victimless crimes and have a lasting negative impact on those depicted as well as the community as a whole,” said McHenry County State’s Attorney Patrick D. Kenneally.“We are pleased and proud to have worked with the Attorney General’s office to secure an outcome in this case that makes McHenry County safer.”

The case is part of ARaoul’s work to investigate and prosecute child pornographers in Illinois. 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 pornography, from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Over the last several years, CyberTipline reports have steadily been on the increase. In 2021, reports to the ICAC increased by 42% over 2020.

Illinois’ ICAC Task Force is one of 61 ICAC Task Forces throughout the country and is comprised of a network of more than 285 local, county, state and federal law enforcement agencies. Since 2019, the Attorney General's ICAC Task Force has received more than 24,100 CyberTips and has been involved in more than 408 arrests of sexual predators.

Since 2006, the Attorney General’s ICAC Task Force has been involved in more than 1,840 arrests of sexual predators. The task force also has provided internet safety training and education to more than 962,779 parents, teachers and students, in addition to more than 23,250 law enforcement professionals.

Raoul reminds the public that online child sexual exploitation can be reported at www.cybertipline.com and child abuse can be reported at dcfsonlinereporting.dcfs.illinois.gov.