A McHenry man has been sentenced to 14 years in prison after prosecutors say he distributed online horrific videos of children as young as infants being sexually abused.
Robert S. Nolan, 37, of McHenry, was charged in June 2025 with 10 counts of reproducing or distributing child sexual abuse material, a Class X felony.
The Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program (ICAC) received a cybertip that a McHenry resident had been downloading and distributing child pornography.
The information led to an investigation conducted by the McHenry Police Department and the Illinois Attorney General’s Office where interviews were conducted and evidence collected.
Nolan was identified as the suspect who distributed the explicit material online, police officials said.
Detectives traced the IP address and associated subscriber information to Nolan, prosecutors said.
Detectives developed evidence establishing that Nolan himself was responsible for uploading and distributing the material through additional investigative work, prosecutors said.
Court documents said that the videos involved children as young as toddlers and infants with various acts being performed on them as they cried.
The McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office reviewed the case and approved the nearly dozen felony charges.
Nolan was taken into custody in early June 2025 at his residence in the 2300 block of Eisenhower Boulevard in McHenry.
He was transported to the McHenry County Jail for an Initial Appearance Court hearing and the state’s attorney’s office filed a petition to detain him pending trial.
McHenry County Judge Jeffrey Altman denied the petition and released Nolan.
Nolan was arrested again less than a month later and charged in a new case with the same types of crimes of possession of child sexual abuse material.
The state’s attorney’s office then filed a petition to revoke his pre-trial release for violating his release conditions, as well as a new petition to detain, and McHenry County Judge Tiffany Davis granted them.
Nolan pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of child sexual abuse material, a Class X felony, in exchange for a 14-year sentence in the Illinois Department of Corrections, which was approved by Judge Davis on Tuesday.
Nolan will be subject to mandatory supervised release for a period of three years to natural life following his release from prison. He will also be required to register as a sex offender for life.
“Every time this material is shared, a child is victimized all over again,” McHenry County State’s Attorney Randi Freese said.
“You can no longer hide behind your screen and keyboard. Our law enforcement partners will follow the digital trail, our office will prosecute those responsible, and we will fight for sentences that hold them accountable. Fourteen years in prison sends that message loud and clear,” Freese said.