Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – A Springfield man faces fourteen child pornography counts — eleven of creating it and three of possessing it — as charged by the Illinois attorney general‘s office. Each count of creating child pornography carries a maximum prison term of thirty years. Each count of possessing child pornography carries a maximum prison term of seven years.
Brandon Heimsness (pictured), 39, was booked into the Sangamon County Jail Thursday, according to county records,
“Survivors of child exploitation and their families can face life-long trauma, and the predators responsible for these heinous crimes being held accountable can help them begin the healing process,” Attorney General Kwame Raoul said in a news release. “My office’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force will continue to partner with state and local law enforcement agencies like the Springfield Police Department to locate and stop individuals who exploit minors.”
The attorney general’s news release says the office’s investigators worked with Springfield police to search Heimness’ home in the 1900 block of North 19-th Street, and that “forensic examiners located child sexual abuse material files on his digital devices.”
According to online court records, a judge granted a prosecution request to deny pretrial release to Heimsness. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for January 12, 2026, at 10:30 a.m.
Information about how to report crimes against children, including child pornography, is here.
(CONTRIBUTING: Will Stevenson)
