ATTORNEY GENERAL RAOUL OBTAINS GUILTY PLEA IN CASE AGAINST MACOUPIN COUNTY MAN WHO POSSESSED CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE MATERIAL

ATTORNEY GENERAL RAOUL OBTAINS GUILTY PLEA IN CASE AGAINST MACOUPIN COUNTY MAN WHO POSSESSED CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE MATERIAL

July 27, 2026

Chicago - Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced a Virden, Illinois man pleaded guilty to possessing child sexual abuse material.

Jacob Monty, 29, pleaded guilty today in Macoupin County Circuit Court to two Class 2 counts of possessing child sexual abuse material involving a victim under the age of 13. Monty's sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 28.

"Individuals who possess child sexual abuse material are perpetuating the exploitation and abuse of children across the globe," Raoul said. "I am proud to continue partnering with law enforcement agencies that are helping us hold these individuals accountable for their heinous actions."

In December 2025, Raoul's investigators - along with officers from the Virden Police Department - conducted a search of Monty's residence in the 300 block of East Holden Street in Virden. Monty was arrested after evidence of child sexual abuse material was found.

Raoul's office is prosecuting the case with Macoupin State's Attorney Jordan Garrison's office.

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. Over the last several years, CyberTipline reports have steadily increased. In 2025, reports to the ICAC Task Force increased by 45% over 2024.

Illinois' ICAC Task Force is one of 61 ICAC task forces throughout the country and 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 82,900 CyberTips and has been involved in more than 1,150 arrests of sexual predators. In 2025, the task force was involved in rescuing more than 30 child victims from ongoing abuse. The task force also has provided internet safety training and education to over 1 million parents, teachers and students, and more than 25,000 law enforcement professionals.

Attorney General Raoul is reminding the public that child sexual exploitation can be reported online at cybertipline.com and child abuse at dcfsonlinereporting.dcfs.illinois.gov. In addition, local child advocacy centers can be found at childrensadvocacycentersofillinois.org.

Deputy Bureau Chief Shantikumar Kulkarni is prosecuting the case for Raoul's High Tech Crimes Bureau.