Springfield, IL-(ENEWSPF)- A federal grand jury today returned an indictment that charges Jonathan Dewayne Cashion, 20, of the 1100 block of Madison Street, Quincy, Illinois, with three counts of sexual exploitation of a minor in the production of child pornography, as well as with one count each of distribution and possession of images of child pornography. The indictment alleges that Cashion produced images of child pornography on three occasions in 2011 and 2012 in Quincy. Further, the indictment seeks criminal forfeiture of various computers and camera equipment used in the commission of the alleged offenses.
On February 15, 2012, Cashion was arrested and charged in a criminal complaint. Cashion waived preliminary hearing and consented to detention pending trial during a hearing on February 15 before U.S. District Judge Sue E. Myerscough.
If convicted, the statutory penalty for each count of sexual exploitation of a minor in the production of child pornography is not less than 15 years in prison and up to 30 years in prison. For distribution of child pornography the penalty is not less than five years in prison and up to 20 years in prison; for possession of child pornography, the penalty is up to 10 years in prison. The offenses also carry terms of supervised release of up to life following any term of imprisonment.
The charges are the result of an ongoing investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Quincy Police Department, and the Adams County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew J. Cannon is prosecuting the case with the cooperation of the Adams County State’s Attorney’s Office.
Members of the public are reminded that an indictment is merely an accusation; the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
