Attorney General Raoul Charges St. Clair County Man Who Allegedly Disseminated Child Sexual Abuse Material

ST. CLAIR COUNTY - Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026, charged a Fairview Heights man in St. Clair County Circuit Court with eight counts of disseminating child sexual abuse material after investigators searched a residence in the city and said they found evidence of the material.

Brian J. Grapperhaus, 45, was charged with eight counts of disseminating child sexual abuse material, each a Class X felony punishable by up to 30 years in prison, according to Raoul’s office. Sentences are ultimately determined by the court.

The case is part of Raoul’s 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 said.

“Children are victimized each time these horrific images are shared, which leaves survivors and their families with life-long scars,” Raoul said. “Holding the perpetrators of these crimes accountable is critical, and my office’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force will continue to partner with state and local law enforcement agencies to find and stop individuals who exploit minors.”

Raoul’s investigators, along with officers from the Fairview Heights Police Department, conducted a search Tuesday of Grapperhaus’ residence in the 300 block of Jubaka Drive in Fairview Heights, the attorney general’s office said. Grapperhaus was arrested after evidence of child sexual abuse material was found, the office said.

The attorney general’s office said Grapperhaus is being held at the St. Clair County Jail, awaiting his detention hearing.

The public is reminded that the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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