ATTORNEY GENERAL RAOUL CHARGES ST. CLAIR COUNTY MAN WITH POSSESSION OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE MATERIAL

ATTORNEY GENERAL RAOUL CHARGES ST. CLAIR COUNTY MAN WITH POSSESSION OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE MATERIAL

September 11, 2026

Chicago - Attorney General Kwame Raoul charged a Belleville, Illinois man with possessing child sexual abuse material. 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.

The Attorney General's office charged Merrick T. Ellis, 26, in St. Clair County Circuit Court with six counts of possession of child sexual abuse material, Class 2 felonies each punishable by up to seven years in prison. Sentences are ultimately determined by the court. Ellis is detained at the St. Clair County Jail pending further proceedings, and his next court date is scheduled for Sept. 17.

"Survivors and their families can face a lifetime of trauma caused by child exploitation, and they deserve to see the individuals who trade and download these abhorrent images and videos held accountable," 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 individuals who exploit minors."

Raoul's investigators - along with officers from the Belleville Police Department - conducted a search on Wednesday of Ellis' home in the first block of North 45^th Street in Belleville. Ellis was arrested after evidence of child sexual abuse material was found.

The public is reminded that the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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 1,250 arrests of sexual predators. Since 2006, the Attorney General's ICAC Task Force has been involved in more than 2,600 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 more than a million parents, teachers and students, in addition to 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.

Assistant Attorney General Sarah Holst Schryer is prosecuting the case for Raoul's High Tech Crimes Bureau.