SHELBY COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) — An 18-year-old from Shelby County has been sentenced to 40 years in prison after pleading guilty to child sex crimes.

According to Attorney General Kwame Raoul, Andrew Clary, 18 of Oconee, pleaded guilty to sexual assault, as well as producing and disseminating child sexual abuse material. This case is part of Raoul’s ongoing work, in collaboration with federal law enforcement agencies and local law enforcement officials throughout Illinois, to arrest offenders who download and trade child sexual abuse material online.

Raoul’s office prosecuted Clardy, who previously pleaded guilty to aggravated criminal sexual assault, producing child pornography and disseminating child pornography, all of which are Class X felonies. He was sentenced by Shelby County Circuit Court Judge Bryan Kibler.

“The victims who were abused and exploited deserve justice, and it is my hope that this sentence allows those young victims and their families to work toward healing,” Raoul said. “I will continue to partner with local law enforcement agencies to hold perpetrators accountable and prevent additional children from becoming victims of these horrific crimes.”

Raoul’s investigators, along with officers from the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, Christian County Sheriff’s Office and Pana Police Department arrested Clardy after searching his home in April 2024 after discovering evidence of child sexual abuse material. This material included videos and images of victims – some of whom he knew.

Clardy was a minor at the time of his arrest but was charged as an adult due to the nature of the offenses. Deputy Chief Shannon O’Brien prosecuted this case for Raoul’s High Tech Crimes Bureau.

Additionally, Raoul is reminding the public that child sexual exploitation can be reported online at cybertipline.com and child abuse on the Illinois DCFS website. In addition, local child advocacy centers can be found on the Children’s Advocacy Centers of Illinois website.