Illinois State Police make Pike arrest for possession of child pornography
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John Coultas
Illinois State Police (ISP) Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) officials announce the arrest of John Coultas, 29, Pleasant Hill, for possession of child pornography, a Class 2 felony.
During February 2020, ISP DCI agents initiated an investigation after learning a subject was distributing child pornography through an online platform. During the investigation, ISP investigators assigned to the Office of the Illinois Attorney General Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force gathered evidence from Coultas. ISP gained access to the digital devices through an advancement in technology which led to the discovery of child pornography in February 2023.
March 10, Pike County State’s Attorney Zachary Boren filed charges against Coultas for possession of child pornography. Pike County Circuit Judge J. Frank McCartney then issued an arrest warrant for Coultas, who was taken into custody by ISP DCI Agents. Coultas was transported to the Pike County Jail where he remains in custody, with bond set at $400,000, 10 percent to apply. This investigation is open and on-going and no further information is available.
Anyone with information concerning this case is asked to contact ISP Zone 4 agents at (217) 782-4750. The Illinois State Police provide the following resource for parents, for the public to report crimes against children, and victims to start their path towards healing and recovery. Anonymous tips of child pornography can also be reported through the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s (NCMEC) cyber tip line at www.cybertipline.com.
