ILLINOIS STATE POLICE ARRESTS CHRISTIAN COUNTY MAN FOR CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE MATERIALS CHARGES
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 14, 2025
February 14, 2025
SPRINGFIELD – Illinois State Police (ISP) Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) officials announce the arrest of Braxton Schaffenacker, a 30-year-old male from Pana, Illinois for charges related to possessing and distributing child sexual abuse materials.
On January 14, 2025, ISP DCI Zone 4 Major Crimes-Springfield Agents initiated an investigation after learning a subject was possessing and disseminating child sexual abuse material. During the investigation, ISP Investigators assigned to the Office of the Illinois Attorney General Internet Crimes against Children Task Force (ICAC) gathered digital evidence indicating that Schaffenacker possessed child sexual abuse material at his residence in Christian County.
On February 13, 2025, Illinois State Police Zone 4 Major Crimes-Springfield, the Pana Police Department, and the Office of Illinois Attorney General (OIAG) executed a search warrant at Schaffenacker’s residence and arrested him. Schaffenacker was charged by the Christian County State’s Attorney’s Office with Dissemination of Child Pornography (Class X) and Possession of Child Pornography (Class 2). Schaffenacker is being held at the Christian County Jail pending a detention hearing.
The Illinois State Police provides resources for parents, for the public to report crimes against children, and survivors to start their path towards healing and recovery. Anonymous tips of child pornography can also be reported through the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's (NCMEC) cyber tip line at www.cybertipline.com. To keep kids safe online, learn more at: https://illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/onlinesafe/; www.cybertipline.org; For resources for survivors of sexual abuse visit: https://www.missingkids.org/gethelpnow/csam-resources.
The charges are not evidence against the defendant, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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