Alton Man Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography Offenses

An Alton man, Robert P. Ridenour, pled guilty on May 22, 2012, to a three-count Indictment charging him with receipt of child pornography (count one), distribution of child pornography (count two), and possession of child pornography (count three), the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Stephen R. Wigginton, announced today. Because Ridenour has a prior conviction for aggravated criminal sexual assault involving a minor, the penalties for the charged offenses increase. Ridenour faces a term of imprisonment on either or both of counts one and two of not less than 15 years but not more than 40 years, a fine up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of five years to life. Ridenour faces a term of imprisonment on count three of not less than 10 years but not more than 20 years, a fine up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of five years to life. Sentencing is scheduled for September 28, 2012 in East St. Louis, Illinois. Ridenour has been held without bond on this charge since March 2, 2012.

The violations were discovered when officers conducting a sex offender compliance check went to the residence that Ridenour shared with other individuals. Ridenour is a registered sex offender as a result of a conviction for predatory criminal sexual assault in 1997 in Madison County, Illinois. A preliminary review of a computer owned by Ridenour revealed images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct in the “My Pictures” folder on the computer. Ridenour gave officers consent to seize and search a desktop computer and a flash drive plugged into it. Forensic reviews of the desktop computer and the flash drive revealed several hundred images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

In a voluntary interview, Ridenour admitted the offenses.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006, by the

Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

The case was investigated by the Alton Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Metro East Cyber Crimes and Analysis Task Force. The case is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Angela Scott.

Federal Fugitive Arrested by Hidalgo Deputies and Alton Police Officers

Mission, Texas ─ Deputies from the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office and officers from the Alton Police Department arrested a man who escaped from federal custody on April 4.

Wednesday morning, Hidalgo County Deputies were on patrol when they spotted the man and attempted to talk to him. As the man saw deputies approaching, he fled on foot. With the assistance of officers from the Alton Police Department, Hidalgo County Deputies arrested him a short time later.

The man was interviewed by agents at the scene and admitted to being in the country illegally. He was taken to the McAllen Border Patrol Station for processing where records checks revealed him to be Victor Arriaga-Chavez--the person who had escaped from federal custody as he was waiting to be arraigned on alien smuggling charges. Victor Arriaga-Chavez is expected to face federal escape charges and deportation.

“Thanks to our law enforcement partners who encountered this fugitive and brought him to justice,” said Chief Patrol Agent Rosendo Hinojosa. “As we work together with our public safety partners and community leaders we will continue to succeed in making our communities safer.”

To report suspicious activity, call the Rio Grande Valley Border Patrol Sector’s toll-free telephone number at (800) 863-9382.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.