ROCKFORD — A McHenry, Ill. man was indicted today by a federal grand jury in Rockford on child pornography charges.
MICHAEL L. CHAPARRO, 27, was charged with one count of transporting child pornography via the internet, and two counts of accessing child pornography that had crossed state lines, including an image of a prepubescent minor and a minor under 12 years of age, with intent to view the child pornography.
Transporting child pornography carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and a maximum of 20 years in prison, and accessing child pornography carries a maximum of 10 years in prison, and up to 20 years in prison for an offense involving a minor under 12 years of age. Each count carries a $250,000 maximum fine. If convicted, the court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal sentencing statutes and the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines.
Chaparro will appear for arraignment on March 3, 2016, at 11:00 a.m. in Federal Court in Rockford, before U.S. Magistrate Iain D. Johnston.
The public is reminded that an indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The indictment was announced by Zachary T. Fardon, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Michael Anderson, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Office of Federal Bureau of Investigation. The McHenry County Sheriff’s Department and McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office assisted in the investigation.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael D. Love.
