By JOHN A. BALLENTINE
For The Prairie News
TOULON – Matthew R. Shipp faces further evaluation in his child pornography case.
Shipp, 19, of Toulon, was transported from the Henry County Jail in Cambridge to the Stark County courtroom, in Toulon, for a scheduling conference hearing on Dec. 1. He appeared in Circuit Court with his Stark County Public Defender Robert M. McBride. The State’s Attorney’s Office Special Prosecutor Shanti Kulkarni was also present in the courtroom.
McBride had filed a motion on Nov. 27 for “the defendant’s pre-trial release” from custody. Judge James A. Mack did not rule on this motion during the hearing after McBride agreed not to proceed with the motion.
McBride then requested that Shipp undergo a sex-offender evaluation by Bryan DeNure, of Midwest Counseling in Pekin, if DeNure is available, according to court documentation. Shipp’s next court appearance is scheduled for Dec. 15, at 11 a.m. for a review and possible motion hearing.
Shipp is charged with five counts of Class X felony child pornography/reproduce/victim(s) under 13-years-old. He was arrested Nov. 15 at his rural Toulon residence by the Illinois Internet Crimes Against Children task force after they received three tips about child pornography being distributed from Stark County. Class X felonies are punishable by up to 30 years in prison for each felony charge.
