Peoria, Ill. – A Tazewell County, Ill., man, Charles A. Chase, 63, of Minier, was arrested today and made his initial appearance in federal court on a charge of receiving images of child pornography. The indictment was returned on Mar. 22, but had remained sealed pending Chase’s arrest and court appearance. The indictment alleges that on Feb. 18, 2011, Chase received by Internet a digital video that depicts a prepubescent female minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct. The indictment also seeks criminal forfeiture of Chase’s computer and related equipment.

Chase appeared in federal court in Peoria this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge David G. Bernthal. Chase was ordered to remain detained and a detention hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, Mar. 29, at 10:00 a.m.

The charges were investigated by the U.S. Secret Service, Bloomington Police Department and the Tazewell County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk D. Schoenbein.

If convicted, the statutory penalty for receipt of child pornography is a mandatory minimum five years to 20 years in prison. The defendant may also be ordered to remain under supervised release for life following any term of imprisonment.

Members of the public are reminded that an indictment is merely an accusation; the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

The 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.