Office of the
Illinois Attorney General
Kwame Raoul

Chicago – Attorney General Kwame Raoul charged a Rockford, Illinois man for possessing child sexual abuse material. The case is part of Raoul’s ongoing work, in collaboration with federal law enforcement agencies and local law enforcement officials throughout Illinois, to apprehend offenders who download and trade child sexual abuse material online.

The Attorney General’s office charged Dennis Clark, 43, in Winnebago County Circuit Court with five counts of possession of child sexual abuse material, Class 2 felonies each punishable by up to seven years in prison. Sentences are ultimately determined by the court. Clark is currently detained at the Winnebago County Jail, and his next hearing is scheduled for Nov. 4.

“It is vital we continue to work to hold individuals who trade and download these heinous images and videos accountable to ensure justice for survivors of child exploitation and their families,” Raoul said. “I would like to thank the Rockford Police Department as well as the Illinois State Police for their assistance in investigating this case. My office’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force will continue to partner with state and local law enforcement agencies to find and stop individuals who exploit minors.”

Raoul’s investigators, along with officers from the Rockford Police Department and the Illinois State Police, executed a search warrant on Clark’s home on Tuesday in the 4000 block of Mila Avenue in Rockford. Clark was arrested after child sexual abuse material was found.

“Cases involving the exploitation of children are among the most serious investigations we handle,” said Rockford Police Chief Carla Redd. “Our officers will continue to work closely with our local, state, and federal partners to protect children, pursue those responsible, and ensure these cases are thoroughly investigated.”

Raoul’s office is co-prosecuting this case with Winnebago County State’s Attorney J. Hanley’s office.

The public is reminded that the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Raoul’s office, with a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, runs the Illinois Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force that investigates child exploitation crimes and trains law enforcement agencies. The task force receives CyberTips, or online reports of child sexual abuse material, from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Over the last several years, CyberTipline reports have steadily increased. In 2025, reports to the ICAC Task Force increased by 45% over 2024.

Illinois’ ICAC Task Force is one of 61 ICAC Task Forces throughout the country and is comprised of a network of more than 200 local, county, state and federal law enforcement agencies. Since 2019, the Attorney General’s ICAC Task Force has received more than 82,900 CyberTips and has been involved in more than 1,150 arrests of sexual predators. In 2025, the task force was involved in rescuing more than 30 child victims from ongoing abuse. The task force also has provided internet safety training and education to over 1 million parents, teachers, students and more than 25,000 law enforcement professionals. 

Attorney General Raoul is reminding the public that child sexual exploitation can be reported online at cybertipline.com and child abuse at dcfsonlinereporting.dcfs.illinois.gov. In addition, local child advocacy centers can be found at childrensadvocacycentersofillinois.org. 

Assistant Attorney General Ruben Herrera is prosecuting the case for Raoul’s High Tech Crimes Bureau.