(Note: Some details of this arrest may be disturbing.)
RIVERTON, Ill. (WAND) - A Riverton man is facing charges of child pornography and sex with an animal, according to Sangamon County court records.
Benjamin Tarr, 39, Riverton, is facing three charges of possession of child pornography and two charges of sex with an animal.
Court records show between December 2024 and June 2025 Tarr possessed pornographic images of children that, "... defendant knew or reasonably should have known to be under the age of 13..." In another case, the victim was likely under the age of 18.
Tarr appeared before a judge on July 3 after being arrested the day before. He was denied pre-trial release and is excepted back in court for a hearing on July 25.
Charging documents also said Tarr, on at least two occasions in June, had sex with a cow. The document said, "...he placed his sex organ in the mouth of the animal for the purpose of sexual gratification..."
Two of the child pornography charges are Class X, the most severe in Illinois. A third child pornography charge is a Class 1 felony while the sex with an animal charges are both Class 4 felonies.
Class X felonies carry up to 30 years in prison.
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