Urbana, Ill. – An Urbana, Ill., man made his initial appearance for arraignment in federal court this afternoon on charges that he received and possessed images of child pornography. Justin M. Davison, 26, formerly of the 1600 block of North Willow Road, was charged in a three-count indictment returned by a grand jury earlier this month. During today’s hearing, trial was scheduled on Jan.3, 2011.

The indictment alleges Davison received images of child pornography in April and July 2009, and that in January 2010, Davison possessed computer hard drives, computer processing units, and other digital storage materials containing images and videos of child pornography. The indictment seeks criminal forfeiture of various computers and related equipment.

If convicted, the statutory penalty for each count of receiving (two counts) child pornography is a mandatory minimum five years to 20 years in prison. For possession of child pornography (one count), the penalty is up to 10 years in prison. Each of the offenses carry terms of supervised release of up to life following any term of imprisonment.

The charges are the result of an investigation by the Urbana Police Department and the U.S. Secret Service, with the assistance of the Bloomington Police Department, which is a member of the Central Illinois Cyber Crime Working Group. The case is being prosecuted with the cooperation of the Champaign County State’s Attorney’s Office.

Members of the public are reminded that an indictment is merely an accusation; the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

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 U.S. 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.