Chicago – Attorney General Kwame Raoul charged a Galena police officer for allegedly possessing child sexual abuse material. The case is part of Raoul’s ongoing work, in collaboration with federal law enforcement agencies and local law enforcement officials throughout Illinois, to apprehend offenders who download and trade child sexual abuse material online.
The Attorney General’s office charged Eli Barthel, 23, of Freeport, Illinois in Stephenson County Circuit Court with two Class 2 felony counts of child sexual assault material possession, each punishable by up to seven years of prison, and one Class 3 felony count of child sexual assault material possession, punishable by up to five years in prison. Sentences are ultimately determined by the court. Barthel is currently detained at the Stephenson County jail.
“Child exploitation is a horrific crime,” Raoul said. “I am committed to ensuring victims and their families receive the justice they deserve by holding the offenders who commit these crimes accountable – no matter who they are.”
Raoul’s investigators conducted a search of Barthel’s residence on the 500 block of North Sierra Drive in Freeport. He was taken into custody after investigators discovered evidence of child sexual abuse material. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) assisted with the investigation.
"The FBI is committed to leveraging the full resources available across our law enforcement and prosecutorial networks to ensure that predators who seek to exploit or abuse our children are held accountable," said Special Agent in Charge Douglas S. DePodesta of the Chicago Division of the FBI. "Police officers take an oath to protect and serve the community – abusing that oath is unconscionable. Combatting child sexual abuse stands as one of the FBI's top criminal investigative priorities and we will continue to utilize every tool in our arsenal to keep our children and communities safe.”
Raoul’s office is prosecuting the case with Stephenson County State’s Attorney Carl Larson’s office.
The public is reminded that the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Raoul’s office, with a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, runs the Illinois Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force that investigates child exploitation crimes and trains law enforcement agencies. The task force receives CyberTips, or online reports of child sexual abuse material, from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Over the last several years, CyberTipline reports have steadily increased. In 2024, reports to the ICAC increased by 11% over 2023.
Illinois’ ICAC Task Force is one of 61 ICAC task forces throughout the country and is comprised of a network of more than 200 local, county, state and federal law enforcement agencies. Since 2019, the Attorney General’s ICAC Task Force has received more than 60,000 CyberTips and has been involved in more than 1,000 arrests of sexual predators. Since 2006, the Attorney General’s ICAC Task Force has been involved in more than 2,400 arrests of sexual predators. In 2024, the task force was involved in rescuing more than 45 child victims from ongoing abuse. The task force also has provided internet safety training and education to tens of thousands of parents, teachers, students and law enforcement professionals.
Attorney General Raoul is reminding the public that child sexual exploitation can be reported online at cybertipline.com and child abuse at dcfsonlinereporting.dcfs.illinois.gov. In addition, local child advocacy centers can be found at childrensadvocacycentersofillinois.org.
Assistant Attorney General Shantikumar Kulkarni is prosecuting the case for Raoul’s High Tech Crimes Bureau. High Tech Crimes Bureau Chief David Haslett and Special Investigator Jacob Vekemans handled the investigation for Raoul’s office.
