{
    "title": "ILLINOIS STATE POLICE ARRESTS GIRARD MAN AFTER CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE MATERIALS INVESTIGATION",
    "modified_at": "2026-04-07 22:50:26",
    "published_at": "2026-04-07 21:58:00",
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    "body": "<p style=\"text-align: center\"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></p><p style=\"text-align: center\">April 7, 2026</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p style=\"text-align: justify\"><strong>CARLINVILLE</strong> &ndash; Illinois State Police (ISP) Division of Criminal Investigation Zone 6 Special Agents arrested 48-year-old James Barnard of Girard, IL for Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Materials- Child Under Age 13 (Class X Felony) and Dissemination of Child Sexual Abuse Materials (Class X Felony). </p><p style=\"text-align: justify\">ISP Special Agents received a tip from the National Center of Missing and Exploited Children and initiated a child sexual abuse materials investigation. ISP, with assistance from the Macoupin County Sheriff&rsquo;s Office and the Illinois Attorney General&rsquo;s Office, identified Barnard as the suspect. </p><p style=\"text-align: justify\">On April 1, 2026, ISP Special Agents executed a search warrant at Barnard&rsquo;s residence in the 200 block of North Harrison Street. Officers took Barnard into custody on scene. On April 2, 2026, ISP presented the case to the Macoupin County State&rsquo;s Attorney&rsquo;s Office and the above mentioned charges were filed. Barnard is being held at the Macoupin County Jail. The investigation is ongoing. </p><p style=\"text-align: justify\">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 sexual abuse materials can also be reported through the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children&#039;s (NCMEC) Cybertip 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: <a href=\"https://www.missingkids.org/gethelpnow/csam-resources/\">https://www.missingkids.org/gethelpnow/csam-resources/</a></p>\n    <figure\n        class=\"release-content-image release-content-image--contained release-content-image--align-center\"\n        data-component=\"image-zoom-popup\"\n        data-image-zoom-popup-selector=\".release-content-image__image\"\n        data-image-zoom-popup-i18n=\"data:application/json;base64,eyJEb3dubG9hZCI6IkRvd25sb2FkIn0=\"\n        data-image-zoom-popup-tracking-views-event=\"Story Image View\"\n        data-image-zoom-popup-tracking-download-event=\"Story Image Download\"\n        data-image-zoom-popup-placement=\"content\"\n    >\n        <div class=\"image-thumbnail-rollover\" style=\"width: 18.21%\">\n            <img\n                src=\"https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/0c9f8adc-f5bf-4dbb-872c-bde407694fac/-/format/auto/\"\n                                class=\"release-content-image__image image-thumbnail-rollover__image\"\n                data-description=\"James M. Barnard (M/48)\"\n                id=\"image-0c9f8adc-f5bf-4dbb-872c-bde407694fac\"\n                data-id=\"0c9f8adc-f5bf-4dbb-872c-bde407694fac\"\n                data-original=\"https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/0c9f8adc-f5bf-4dbb-872c-bde407694fac/-/inline/no/04.07.26_Barnard+Booking+Photo1.jpg\"\n                data-mfp-src=\"https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/0c9f8adc-f5bf-4dbb-872c-bde407694fac/-/format/auto/\"\n                alt=\"James M. Barnard (M/48)\"\n            />\n            <div class=\"image-thumbnail-rollover__caption\">\n                <svg class=\"icon icon-expand image-thumbnail-rollover__caption-icon\">\n                <use xlink:href=\"#icon-expand\"></use>\n            </svg>            </div>\n        </div>\n\n        <figcaption class=\"release-content-image__caption\">James M. Barnard (M/48)</figcaption>\n    </figure>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><em><strong>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.</strong></em></p><p style=\"text-align: center\">###</p><div class=\"release-content-contact\" id=\"contact-2d8582c3-6660-46ec-be9a-ede92e8776d0\">\n    <div class=\"release-content-contact__avatar\"><img src=\"https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/c186f24e-632d-4a36-87df-aa1eb28e1989/-/crop/425x425/63,0/-/preview/-/scale_crop/128x128/center/-/format/auto/\" alt=\"Illinois State Police\" class=\"release-content-contact__avatar-image\" /></div>\n    <div class=\"release-content-contact__details\">\n        <strong class=\"release-content-contact__name\">Illinois State Police</strong>\n        <em class=\"release-content-contact__description\">Public Information Office, Office of the Director</em>\n        <ul class=\"release-content-contact__details-list\"><li class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item\"><a href=\"mailto:ISP.PIO.Personnel@illinois.gov\"  class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item-link\" title=\"ISP.PIO.Personnel@illinois.gov\"><svg class=\"icon icon-paper-plane release-content-contact__details-list-item-icon\">\n                <use xlink:href=\"#icon-paper-plane\"></use>\n            </svg>ISP.PIO.Personnel@illinois.gov</a></li>\n<li class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item\"><a href=\"https://twitter.com/@ILStatePolice\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item-link\" title=\"@ILStatePolice\"><svg class=\"icon icon-twitter release-content-contact__details-list-item-icon\">\n                <use xlink:href=\"#icon-twitter\"></use>\n            </svg>@ILStatePolice</a></li>\n<li class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item\"><a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/ILStatePolice/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item-link\" title=\"ILStatePolice\"><svg class=\"icon icon-facebook release-content-contact__details-list-item-icon\">\n                <use xlink:href=\"#icon-facebook\"></use>\n            </svg>ILStatePolice</a></li>\n<li class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item\"><a href=\"https://isp.illinois.gov/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item-link\" title=\"isp.illinois.gov\"><svg class=\"icon icon-browser release-content-contact__details-list-item-icon\">\n                <use xlink:href=\"#icon-browser\"></use>\n            </svg>isp.illinois.gov</a></li></ul>\n    </div>\n</div><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>",
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