Springfield Man to Serve 25 Years in Federal Prison after 18-Year State Sentence

Springfield, Ill.  – U.S. District Judge Sue E. Myerscough has ordered Charles Raymond Schrode, (SHROH-dee) 33, of Springfield, Ill., to serve 25 years in federal prison for sexual exploitation of a minor and receiving and possessing child pornography. Schrode’s sentencing hearing concluded late Friday, Oct. 30, 2015.

Judge Myerscough ordered that Schrode’s federal sentence be served consecutive to an 18-year sentence with the Illinois Department of Corrections. Schrode pled guilty in February 2014, to a charge of predatory criminal sexual assault in Sangamon County.  Judge Myerscough further ordered that Schrode remain on supervised release for life following his release from prison.

On Feb. 24, 2015, Schrode entered open guilty pleas to the federal charges:  receipt of child pornography (one count) in May 2012; sexual exploitation of a minor (two counts) in February and March 2013; and possession of child pornography (one count) in June 2013.

The federal charges were investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Gregory K. Harris.

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.