Sangamon Sun

Adam Power, a former music and theater director from Petersburg, has been sentenced to 60 years in federal prison for producing, receiving, and possessing child pornography. The sentence was handed down on March 13 in Springfield's U.S. District Court after Power pleaded guilty to 34 counts related to child pornography.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Tanner Jacobs described Power's actions as "a targeted attack on an entire community of children." Despite his plea for leniency based on potential rehabilitation, District Judge Colleen Lawless emphasized the severity of the crimes, stating, "There is no doubt that this is certainly a heinous crime."

Power admitted during his May 3 hearing that he caused "an immense amount of pain" and expressed shame for his actions. His lawyer, Mark Wykoff, argued that Power had been bullied in his youth and sought solace online. However, the judge noted that Power used his skills and resources to exploit minors.

The investigation revealed that Power manipulated at least 24 boys into creating explicit content by posing as a female online. Jacobs highlighted the lasting impact on victims, saying Power "destroyed the innocence of boys whose ages ranged from 8 to 16."

Families affected by Power's actions attended the sentencing hearing and supported the prosecution's call for a lengthy sentence. Kari Bedford and Johnny Molson, who previously raised concerns about Power's behavior, expressed relief at the outcome. Bedford said, "Many victims are still unaccounted for," while Molson stressed the importance of believing children's accounts.

Power had previously worked at various educational institutions and community theaters in Illinois before being arrested in March 2023. He has been in federal custody since June 2023 after federal prosecutors took over the case.

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