Illinois Attorney General charges Quincy man with five Class X felonies for dissemination of child porn

CHICAGO — The office of Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul charged a Quincy man on Friday, May 9, for allegedly disseminating child sexual abuse material. 

The Attorney General’s office charged Timothy Mason, 43, in Adams County Circuit Court with five Class X felony counts of dissemination of child pornography, each punishable by up to 30 years in prison. Mason is detained at the Adams County Jail, and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 13 before Judge Tad Brenner.

The case is part of Raoul’s ongoing work, in collaboration with federal law enforcement agencies and local law enforcement officials throughout Illinois, to apprehend offenders who download and trade child sexual abuse material online.

“Children who have been exploited by predators who trade child sexual abuse material can face a lifetime of trauma. making it essential that these predators be held accountable. Helping survivors and their families receive justice can be essential to the healing process,” Raoul said in a press release. “My office’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force will continue to partner with local law enforcement agencies to locate and bring to justice individuals who exploit minors.”

Raoul’s investigators conducted a search of Mason’s residence in the 300 block of Ninth Street in Quincy on May 7. Mason was taken into custody after investigators discovered evidence of child sexual abuse material. The Adams County Sheriff’s Office assisted with the arrest. 

Raoul’s office will co-prosecute this case with the Adams County States Attorney’s office.

“The Adams County State’s Attorney’s Office appreciates the ability to continue to work with the Attorney General’s Office in the investigation and prosecution of child pornography cases,” Adams County Assistant State’s Attorney Laura Keck said.

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 sexual abuse material, from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. During the last several years, CyberTipline reports have steadily increased. In 2024, reports to the ICAC increased by 11% over 2023.

Illinois’ ICAC Task Force is one of 61 ICAC task forces throughout the country. It is comprised of a network of more than 200 local, county, state and federal law enforcement agencies. Since 2019, the Attorney General’s ICAC Task Force has received more than 54,700 CyberTips and has been involved in more than 900 arrests of sexual predators.
 
Child sexual exploitation can be reported online at cybertipline.com and child abuse at dcfsonlinereporting.dcfs.illinois.gov. Local child advocacy centers can be found at childrensadvocacycentersofillinois.org. 

Assistant Attorney General Courtney Lindbeck is prosecuting the case for Raoul’s High Tech Crimes Bureau.