Michael M. Anderson, 25, of Belleville, IL, was arraigned today on a one count Indictment charging him with Possession of Prepubescent Child Pornography. The Indictment alleges that on or about September 4, 2014, Anderson knowingly possessed a digital recording which contained child pornography that involved a prepubescent minor or a minor who had not attained 12 years of age. Trial is scheduled for April 29, 2015 in front of the Honorable Nancy J. Rosenstengel. If convicted, Anderson faces a term of imprisonment of not more than twenty years, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of not less than five years, up to life.

An indictment is merely the method by which federal charges are lodged. A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Laura Reppert.