ROCKFORD — A Creston man pleaded guilty Tuesday before U.S. District Judge Philip G. Reinhard to charges of transportation of child pornography via the Internet and possession of child pornography.

Eric Canchola, 27, of Creston, admitted in a written plea agreement that on March 21, 2018, he used a computer to send a video file over the Internet to another KIK chat application user. The image depicted a prepubescent female child engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Canchola also admitted that on May 8, 2018, he possessed two Ipods, a desktop computer, and two portable hard drives that each contained more than 600 images of children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. 

Canchola faces a mandatory minimum of 5 years and a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment for transporting child pornography, and a maximum of 20 years’ imprisonment for possession of child pornography, as well as a term of supervised release following imprisonment of at least 5 years and up to life, and a fine of up to $250,000.

The actual sentence will be determined by the United States District Court, guided by the sentencing guidelines. Sentencing for Canchola is set for Dec. 11 at 9 a.m. 

The guilty plea was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Emmerson Buie, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago 2 Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The Ogle County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the investigation. 

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael D. Love.