Petersburg man charged with child pornography possession

Police have arrested a man from Petersburg on charges of possessing child pornography after a two-year investigation. Authorities said the man had images and videos of children being victims of sexual assault. Adam L. Power, 29, of Petersburg was arrested Wednesday by Athens Police Department.

An investigation into child pornography distribution began after a December 2020 report that someone was distributing images of minors online. A search by Athens Police Department assigned to the Office of the Illinois Attorney General’s (OIAG) Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force on Power’s house turned up evidence that contributed to the arrest.

Illinois State Police said other information was not being provided because it is an ongoing investigation. 

Power was a theater teacher at Our Saviour School in Jacksonville from August 2015 to January 2019. A Diocese of Springfield spokesman would confirm Power’s prior employment at the school. He also previously served as choir director at Central Christian Church in Jacksonville. There is no indication the arrest has any connection to his time at the school or the church.

“Our Saviour Catholic School and the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois are committed to the protection of all children and work in partnership with local agencies to prevent any child from being harmed,” spokesman Andrew Hansen said. “Besides contacting local law enforcement, individuals who have knowledge of abuse of a child may also call the Diocese’s Child Abuse Reporting and Investigation number at (217) 321-1155. They can also contact the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-252-2873.”