EFFINGHAM, Ill. (WCIA) — The Illinois Attorney General’s Office announced Monday morning that a man from Effingham will spend the next two decades in prison for possessing and disseminating child sexual abuse material.

27-year-old Dallas Ray Campbell was sentenced on Thursday to 20 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to four charges: one Class X felony count of dissemination of child pornography and three Class 2 felony counts of possession of child pornography.

Investigators with the Attorney General’s Office and Effingham Police Department searched Campbell’s residence in October 2023. He was arrested after law enforcement found evidence of child sexual abuse material from the search.

“This sentence will protect children from abuse and exploitation,” Effingham County State’s Attorney Aaron Jones said. “My office commends the hard work and diligence from law enforcement in investigating this case, in particular the Illinois Attorney General Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and Effingham Police Department.”

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul said the number of tips received by his Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force dramatically rose 46% in 2023 compared to 2022.

“Survivors of child abuse and exploitation are revictimized every time an individual downloads or trades one of these horrific photos or videos,” Raoul said. “My office’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force works tirelessly to identify and track down individuals who assault and exploit children. I will continue to partner with local law enforcement to locate and hold these offenders accountable.”

Any child exploitation tips can be reported online to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and tips of child abuse can reported on the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services website.