Pawnee Man Charged with Possession and Dissemination of Child Sexual Abuse Material

A 24-year-old Pawnee man is facing multiple felony charges following an investigation into the alleged possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material, according to Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul.

Cole C. Crowder was charged in Sangamon County Circuit Court with five counts of dissemination of child sexual abuse material and five counts of possession of child sexual abuse material. The dissemination charges are Class X felonies, each carrying a potential prison sentence of up to 30 years, while the possession charges are Class 2 felonies, each punishable by up to seven years in prison.

Crowder is currently being held at the Sangamon County Jail, with his next court appearance scheduled for Oct. 26. Any sentence would be determined by the court if he is convicted.

The charges followed an investigation conducted by the Attorney General's office with assistance from the Pawnee Police Department. Investigators searched Crowder's residence in the 200 block of Carroll Street in Pawnee, where authorities reported finding evidence of child sexual abuse material.

Following the investigation, Crowder was indicted by a statewide grand jury on Oct. 9. He subsequently surrendered to the Sangamon County Sheriff's Office on Oct. 15 after an arrest warrant was issued.

The case is being prosecuted by the Attorney General's office in cooperation with Sangamon County State's Attorney John C. Milhiser. Assistant Attorney General Samantha Cain is handling the prosecution on behalf of Raoul's office.

“It is vital that we hold individuals who trade and download these heinous images and videos accountable to ensure justice for survivors of child exploitation and their families,” Raoul said. “My office’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force will continue to partner with state and local law enforcement agencies to find and stop these predators.”

The investigation is part of a broader effort by the Attorney General's office to identify and prosecute individuals suspected of possessing or distributing child sexual abuse material. The office works with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies throughout Illinois through its Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force.

Funded in part through a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, the Illinois ICAC Task Force investigates crimes involving the online exploitation of children and provides specialized training to law enforcement personnel. The task force also receives reports of suspected child sexual abuse material from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's CyberTipline.

According to the Attorney General's office, the number of reports referred to the task force has continued to increase in recent years. In 2025, the task force received 45% more CyberTips than in 2024.

Illinois' ICAC Task Force is one of 61 such organizations operating nationwide and includes a network of more than 200 local, county, state and federal law enforcement agencies.

Since 2019, the Illinois task force has received more than 82,900 CyberTips and participated in more than 1,150 arrests. During 2025, its investigations also contributed to the rescue of more than 30 children from ongoing abuse.

In addition to its investigative work, the task force provides education on internet safety and the prevention of child exploitation. Its outreach efforts have reached more than 1 million parents, teachers and students, along with more than 25,000 law enforcement professionals.

Raoul's office encourages anyone with information about suspected child sexual exploitation to submit a report through the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's CyberTipline at cybertipline.com. Suspected child abuse can also be reported to the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services at dcfsonlinereporting.dcfs.illinois.gov.

Information about local child advocacy centers and available resources can be found at childrensadvocacycentersofillinois.org.

Crowder is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.