Illinois man arrested for suspected child sexual abuse and child pornography

ROCKFORD, Ill. — A northern Illinois man was arrested Friday on state charges related to child sexual abuse and child pornography.

This arrest resulted from an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Boone County Sheriff’s Office.

Tyler McIntosh, 26, of Belvidere, Illinois, was charged with one count of possessing child pornography with intent to deliver, a Class X felony; and one count of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, a Class 2 felony. McIntosh, a previously convicted sex offender, is currently being held in state custody at the Boone County Jail and has been denied bond.

Investigators received information that someone in a residence located on Pearl Street Road in Belvidere was potentially using the Internet to share child pornography. The investigation, which received extensive support from the HSI Cyber Crimes Center, led to a search of a residence which resulted in a number of items being seized by investigators. Those items are currently under forensic examination by HSI special agents.

This arrest is part of an on-going investigation by Boone County detectives and HSI. Additional charges are possible.

A Class X felony is punishable by six to 30 years in state prison. A Class 2 felony is punishable by three to seven years in prison. The public is reminded that these charges are merely allegations and are not proof of the defendant’s guilt.  Every defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the State’s burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

This investigation was conducted under HSI’s Operation Predator, an international initiative to protect children from sexual predators. Since the launch of Operation Predator in 2003, HSI has arrested more than 12,000 individuals for crimes against children, including the production and distribution of online child pornography, traveling overseas for sex with minors, and sex trafficking of children. In fiscal year 2014, more than 2,300 individuals were arrested by HSI special agents under this initiative and more than 1,000 victims identified or rescued.

HSI encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free Tip Line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or by completing its online tip form. Both are staffed around the clock by investigators. From outside the U.S. and Canada, callers should dial 802-872-6199. Hearing impaired users can call TTY 802-872-6196. Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, via its toll-free 24-hour hotline, 1-800-THE-LOST.

For additional information about wanted suspected child predators, download HSI’s Operation Predator smartphone app or visit the online suspect alerts page.

HSI is a founding member and current chair of the Virtual Global Taskforce, an international alliance of law enforcement agencies and private industry sector partners working together to prevent and deter online child sexual abuse.