Mattoon Man Charged with Transportation, Possession of Child Pornography

URBANA, Ill. – An initial trial date of Dec. 9, 2019, has been scheduled for a Mattoon, Ill., man, Tyler L. Foote, 28, indicted on federal child pornography charges on Oct. 1. The indictment had remained sealed pending Foote’s arraignment today in federal court in Urbana. Foote, of the 1300 block of Champaign Ave, in Mattoon, was arrested on Aug. 16, on Coles County state charges.

The indictment alleges that on four occasions between March 2017 and January 2019, Foote used a computer to transmit sexually explicit images of minors, and that at the time of  his arrest, on Aug. 16, 2019, Foote possessed child pornography.

If convicted, the statutory maximum penalty for each count of transportation of child pornography (four counts) is 20 years in prison; for possession of child pornography, the maximum penalty is 10 years in prison. Each of the five counts carries a potential fine of up to $250,000.

During today’s court appearance, U.S. Magistrate Judge Eric I. Long ordered that Foote remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elly M. Peirson and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Shannon O’Brien. The charges are the result of an investigation by the Illinois Attorney General’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the Mattoon Police Department.

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

The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.