Graphic Federal Complaint Against Former Illinois Lawmaker Leads to Child Porn Charges

An Illinois state lawmaker resigned his seat in March of this year and on Monday, April 28th, received formal charges in a federal child pornography case.

Former Representative Keith Farnham, 66, was charged with having two child pornography videos on his computer at his state office and another computer from his home, which were seized on March 13th as part of the federal investigation.

The complaint also details extensive and graphic communications between Farnham’s email address and others, discussing their child porn preferences.

“12 is about as old as i can handle. i love them at 6 7 8,” stated one chat message from November, from an email address associated with Farnham. The same user later that month recalled sexually molesting a 6-year-old girl. However, he does not currently face criminal charges related to that claim.

The filing also contained graphic details about child porn images found on the computer, many of which were of children under 10 years old, and at least one was of an infant.

Farnham has twice now sponsored bills in Illinois that would toughen penalties in the state for child porn offenses. One bill cosponsored last year, House Bill 2647, provided that each piece of child pornography could be charged as a separate crime, and also gave judges new authority to impose consecutive sentences in  child pornography crimes.

While he has not been arrested, Farnham has been scheduled to appear in the US District Court in Chicago on Wednesday, April 30th.

“We have made arrangements today. He will surrender himself at the federal building,” Farnham’s attorney said.

Prosecuting Federal Child Pornography Charges

Federal law defines child pornography as “any visual depiction, including any photograph, film, video, picture, or computer or computer-generated image or picture, whether made or produced by electronic, mechanical, or other means, of sexually explicit conduct, where:

• the production of the visual depiction involves the use of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct; or
• the visual depiction is a digital image, computer image, or computer-generated image that is, or is indistinguishable from, that of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct; or
• the visual depiction has been created, adapted, or modified to appear that an identifiable minor is engaging in sexually explicit conduct.”
• A “minor” is defined under federal law as anyone who is under the age of 18 years old.

It is a federal crime to knowingly possess, manufacture, access, or distribute child pornography. All 50 states, and the District of Columbia, have additional laws that criminalize child pornography as a terrible sex crime charge.

South Carolina is one of nine states that has passed laws that require computer technicians, IT specialists, and others who encounter computers in their daily work, to immediately report child pornography if they encounter it. While theses specialists are not required to search computers specifically for child pornography, they must report it as soon as they find it.

Some of the most common sex crime charges are:

• Distribution of child pornography
• Production of child pornography
• Use of child pornography
• Possession of child pornography
• Sex with a minor
• Sexual assault

All computers have IP address that can be used to identify whether you have accessed child pornography from your computer. Also, you could get caught with child pornography if you have child pornography on your hard drive and have your computer repaired by a technician.

The Strom Law Firm Can Defend Federal Child Pornography Charges

Being caught with child pornography on your computer usually implies that you intentionally downloaded the pornography and purposefully viewed it. The defense attorneys at the Strom Law Firm will aggressively fight to defend your rights and provide you with the best defense against federal child pornography and sex crime charges. We offer free, confidential consultations to discuss the facts of your case, so contact us today at 803.252.4800.