Quincy man arrested for possession of child pornography, failing to register as sex offender

QUINCY — A Quincy man was arrested twice this week by Quincy Police Department officers for possession of child pornography and failing to register as a sex offender.

Quincy Police Department detectives began an investigation in July into the whereabouts of Dallas S. Preston, 43, who did not appear to be living at his registered address, 913 N. 12th.  Several search warrants were served on various Internet-based companies. Detectives learned Preston had been staying at an address on Penthouse Drive in Quincy and at an address in La Grange, Mo.  

Detectives located and arrested Preston on Tuesday, Sept. 3, without incident in the 2800 block of Broadway.  He was lodged in the Adams County Jail at that time for failing to register as a sex offender. Several electronic devices were seized at the time of his arrest.  Preston appeared in court on Wednesday, Sept. 4, and was given pretrial release.

After Preston’s initial arrest, an additional search warrant was obtained for his electronic devices.  Numerous images and videos of child pornography involving minors under 13 years of age were found.  

Preston was again located and arrested in the 2800 block of Broadway on Thursday, Sept. 5. He again was lodged in the Adams County Jail, this time for possession of child pornography.

Preston appeared in Adams County Circuit Court on Friday and was charged with six counts of child pornography involving minors under 13 years of age.  Preston, represented by Public Defender Betsy Bier, waived pretrial release and agreed to detention in the Adams County Jail without having a hearing.

Each of the six counts of child pornography were enhanced to Class 1 felonies because Preston had a prior conviction for child pornography in Adams County, receiving 24 months of probation in 2015.  If convicted of all counts as charged, Preston is eligible for between 24 and 90 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.