A former agricultural teacher at Clifton Central High School in Iroquois County was sentenced to 25 years in prison on Wednesday, Jan. 28, after pleading guilty to two Class X felony counts of child pornography dissemination.
Ford County Circuit Court Judge Matt Fitton sentenced Brett M. Sorensen, 38, of Paxton, to consecutive sentences in the Illinois Department of Corrections of 10 years for one count and 15 years for the other. Sorensen will receive credit for the 499 days he has already served at the Ford County Jail in Paxton.
An additional six counts of child pornography were dismissed in return for Sorensen’s plea.
The charges stemmed from conduct alleged to have occurred between May 26 and May 30, 2024, in Ford County. Sorensen was arrested on a warrant by Illinois State Police on Sept. 17, 2024, following an investigation initiated by a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
“I am grateful to investigator Wayne Powell from the Illinois State Police … for his diligent work in this investigation,” Ford County State’s Attorney Andrew Killian said. “Cases involving the dissemination of child sexual abuse material require law enforcement to painstakingly sift through digital evidence to identify specific offenders. I recognize and appreciate that effort in this investigation.”
