MASCOUTAH – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced he has charged a Mascoutah, Illinois, man with possessing child sexual abuse material. The case is part of Raoul’s ongoing work, in collaboration with federal law enforcement agencies and local law enforcement officials throughout Illinois, to apprehend offenders who download and trade child sexual abuse material online.
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Brian Favinger, 22, was charged in St. Clair County Circuit Court with three counts of possessing child sexual abuse material, Class 2 felonies each punishable by up to seven years in prison. Sentences are ultimately determined by the court. Favinger is currently being held at the St. Clair County Jail awaiting his pretrial detention hearing that is scheduled for July 31.
“It is vital that we continue to work to hold individuals who trade and download these heinous images and videos accountable, as they often leave survivors of child exploitation and their families with a lifetime of trauma,” Raoul said. “My office’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force will continue to partner with state and local law enforcement agencies to find and stop individuals who exploit minors.”
Raoul’s investigators, along with officers from the Mascoutah Police Department, conducted a search on Wednesday of Favinger’s residence in the 100 block of Copper Oaks Court in Mascoutah. Favinger was arrested after evidence of child sexual abuse material was found. Favinger is a cafeteria worker at Mascoutah High School. Officials encourage residents who may have additional information to submit a tip by calling Special Investigator Adam Krack at 217-843-0941.
The public is reminded that the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Raoul’s office, with a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, runs the Illinois Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force that investigates child exploitation crimes and trains law enforcement agencies. The task force receives CyberTips, or online reports of child sexual abuse material, from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Over the last several years, CyberTipline reports have steadily increased. In 2025, reports to the ICAC Task Force increased by 45% over 2024.
Illinois’ ICAC Task Force is one of 61 ICAC Task Forces throughout the country and is comprised of a network of more than 200 local, county, state and federal law enforcement agencies. Since 2019, the Attorney General’s ICAC Task Force has received more than 82,900 CyberTips and has been involved in more than 1,250 arrests of sexual predators. Since 2006, the Attorney General’s ICAC Task Force has been involved in more than 2,600 arrests of sexual predators. The task force also has provided internet safety training and education to more than 1 million parents, teachers and students, in addition to more than 25,000 law enforcement professionals.
Attorney General Raoul is reminding the public that child sexual exploitation can be reported online at cybertipline.com and child abuse at childabuse.illinois.gov. In addition, local child advocacy centers can be found at childrensadvocacycentersofillinois.org.
Assistant Attorney General Ruben Herrera is prosecuting the case for Raoul’s High Tech Crimes Bureau.
