Fairview Heights man faces seven-count charge of child porn possession
A Fairview Heights man faces multiple charges of possessing child pornography after an investigation by multiple law enforcement agencies led police officers to his house with a search warrant.
The St. Clair County State’s Attorney’s office on Wednesday filed seven felony counts against Jesse J. Bier, 38, of the the 800 block of Harbor Woods. They include six counts of possessing pornographic videos of a child under the age of 13 and one count of pornography with a child under 18.
A search warrant was served on Bier Tuesday by criminal investigators with the Fairview Heights and O’Fallon police departments and members of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, according to information provided by O’Fallon police.
The initial six counts are class 2 felonies, each punishable for seven to 14 years in prison and a $25,000 fine, according to Illinois sentencing guidelines. The class 3 felony for possession child porn of a victim less than 18 is punishable for five to 10 years and fines, the guildelines state.
Bier was transported to the St. Clair County Jail. Bond was set at $75,000.
The investigation stemmed from a CyberTipline report that was sent by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The Illinois Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force investigates child exploitation crimes and trains of law enforcement investigators.
Over the last several years, CyberTipline reports have steadily increased. Reports during 2021 increased by 42 percent over 2020, according to the O’Fallon Police Department.
