Former School Janitor in Hancock County Indicted on Child Sexual Exploitation, Pornography Charges

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – Frank Marion Stout, Jr., who worked as a custodian at Warsaw High School, is scheduled to appear in federal court on Sept. 5, for arraignment on child sexual exploitation and child pornography charges. This week, a grand jury returned its indictment against Stout, 45, of Elvaston, Ill., and charged him with two counts of sexual exploitation of minors, and with receiving and possessing child pornography. The indictment alleges that the offenses occurred from 2015 through July 2017.

Stout was arrested on July 26, and previously charged in a criminal complaint with receiving child pornography. During a detention hearing on Aug. 8, 2017, before U.S. District Judge Sara L. Darrow, in Rock Island, Stout was ordered released on a $250,000 bond.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Meredith DeCarlo. The charges are the result of an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations and the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office.

Members of the public are encouraged to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through the ICE HSI toll-free hotline at 1-866-DHS-2ICE (1-866-347-2423). This tip line is staffed around-the-clock by investigators.

If convicted, the statutory minimum penalty for each count of sexual exploitation of minors (two counts charged) is 15 years to 30 years in prison. The statutory minimum penalty for receiving child pornography is five years and up to 20 years in prison. For possession of child pornography, the penalty is up to 20 years in prison.

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