Marinette Man Charged in Federal Court with Distribution and Possession of Child Pornography

James L. Santelle, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced today that a federal grand jury returned an indictment on April 17, 2012 charging Eric R. Casillas, age 38, of Marinette, Wisconsin, with distribution and possession of child pornography.

According to the indictment, Casillas used a computer to distribute and possess images of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. If convicted of the distribution charge, he faces up to 20 years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and up to life on supervised release. If convicted of the possession charge, Casillas faces up to 10 years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and up to life on supervised release. An arraignment is scheduled for April 27, 2012, before the Honorable James R. Sickel.

The case stems from an investigation by the Wisconsin Department of Justice-Division of Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistance was also provided by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and Marinette County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney William Roach has been assigned to prosecute the case.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.