A southern Illinois federal district judge sentenced a registered sex offender to 35 years in prison after he admitted to distributing child pornography and obscene material to a minor.
The U.S. attorney for Southern Illinois says 57-year-old Edward Bates, most recently of Olney, pleaded guilty to one count of felon in possession of a firearm, one count of distribution of child pornography, two counts of attempted transfer of obscene matter to a minor, and one count of offense by a registered sex offender.
According to court documents, Bates distributed child pornography in Richland County on January 26, 2022. In April 2023, he transferred sexually explicit material to a 10-year-old minor. On June 4, 2024, Bates was found in possession of two firearms and ammunition as a felon.
Bates was previously convicted of two separate child pornography offenses and was therefore required to register as a sex offender.
