West Frankfort, Illinois, Man Sentenced On Child Pornography Charges

Stephen R. Wigginton, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today that Richard Faling, 55, of Buckner, Illinois, was sentenced for accessing child pornography images online. Faling had earlier pled guilty to the charges on August 14, 2013. The Court sentenced Faling to 210 months in prison, a $500 fine, and a lifetime of supervised release following discharge from prison.

The evidence at sentencing established that Faling had previously been convicted in Illinois for sex offenses involving children. After his release from prison for that offense, authorities discovered that Faling had been accessing child pornography from his computer at his Buckner, Illinois residence.

“This case illustrates the need for such sentences.” noted United States Attorney Wigginton. “I will continue to do my utmost to protect the children of Southern Illinois from those who would prey upon them.”

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas E. Leggans.