Illinois State Police (ISP) Division of Criminal Investigation Zone 2 Special Agents arrested 45-year-old Destan L. Hoots of Galesburg, IL for 15 counts of Possession of Child Pornography Under Age of 13 (Class 2 Felony) and one count of Dissemination of Child Pornography (Class X Felony).
On August 21, 2025, ISP Special Agents executed a search warrant at Hoots’ residence in the 400 block of North Academy Street in Galesburg and collected electronic evidence. The evidence was analyzed and revealed child sexual abuse materials. ISP Special Agents arrested Hoots on the above-mentioned charges, and he was transported to the Knox County Jail.
The Galesburg Police Department, Knox County Sheriff’s Office, and the Illinois Attorney General’s High-Tech Crimes Unit assisted with the investigation. There is no further information.
The Illinois State Police provides resources for parents, for the public to report crimes against children, and survivors to start their path towards healing and recovery. Anonymous tips of child sexual abuse materials can also be reported through the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s (NCMEC) cyber tip line at www.cybertipline.com. To keep kids safe online, learn more at: https://illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/onlinesafe/; www.cybertipline.org; For resources for survivors of sexual abuse visit: https://www.missingkids.org/gethelpnow/csam-resources.
The charges are not evidence against the defendant, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
***Courtesy of the Illinois State Police***
