Mykaela Patterson, former Community Unit School District #2 substitute teacher who was arrested on Feb. 22 on two federal charges, received five years probation, Thursday, during her 40 minute sentencing hearing.
Patterson was facing two federal charges from incidents that stemmed from the fall of 2020.
Count One was possession of child pornography and Count Two was distribution of child porn.
Count Two was dismissed on a motion by the government.
Patterson will also be required to pay a $100 special assessment fee and a $300 fine.
The monies owed were lowered to $25 a month or 10% of her income, whichever is greater, until the amount is paid in full.
An additional $5,000 assessment was waived due to the inability to pay that amount.
As part of Patterson’s mandatory conditions, she is not allowed to commit another federal, state or local crime, unlawfully possess a controlled substance, refrain from using a controlled substance, give a DNA sample to the probation officer and comply with the requirements of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.
Patterson’s administrative conditions for release include not possessing a firearm, ammunition or destructive device, leave the federal judicial district without permission and report to the probation officer in a reasonable manner.
Special conditions include participate in treatment for narcotic addiction, drug dependence or alcohol dependence, participate in mental health services, provide financial information to the probation officer and the Financial Litigation Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, apply all monies received from income tax, lottery winnings or any other form of income to the court, work regularly at a lawful occupation unless excused by the probation office for schooling, training or other acceptable reasons, consent to searches by law enforcement and probation officer without a warrant, identify computer systems, internet capable devices, routers/modems and electrical devices she has contact with as well as give her passwords and all social media accounts to the U.S. Probation Office, participate in an approved sexual offender treatment program and be location monitored for a period of six months. She will also have a curfew to her residence everyday from 6 a.m. until 9 p.m.
On Count One, the indictment indicates that on or about Nov. 17, 2020, in Crawford County, Patterson knowingly was in possession of a book, magazine, periodical, film, videotape, computer disk or any other material that contained the image of child porn of a child under the age 12 and a non-prepubescent minor that had been mailed, shipped or transported in interstate commerce by any means, including a computer.
On Count Two, which took place on or about Sept. 9, 2020 in Crawford County and is defined as Patterson knowingly distributing via the internet a visual depiction and the production of such visual depiction involving the use of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
Several items are sealed records such as the investigation report, sentencing memorandum and statement of reasons to the judgement.
During the investigation, an FBI agent from Fort Washington, Pennsylvania, was working online in an undercover capacity and investigating potential child exploitation activities, when he came across Patterson from July- October 2020.
The agent contacted the FBI office in Fairview Heights and transferred the investigation to the local office.
After following up on Patterson, the agents executed a search warrant at a residence in Robinson where Patterson was living at the time.
During the search warrant, Patterson confessed to possessing and distributing child porn on a social media app.
When agents showed Patterson the images, she confirmed that she had possessed, sent and received the images.
During the search of her computer and cell phone, agents found 1,965 video files and 1,135 images of child porn. Forty-eight of the videos were of infants, nine videos depicted bestiality and 425 depicted bondage, humiliation or torture.
A forensic evaluation also determined that Patterson has distributed seven images of child porn in the social media group chat on Sept. 9, 2020.