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Vandalia couple pleads guilty to child porn charges

A Vandalia couple accused of involvement in an alleged child pornography ring entered into plea agreements in Fayette County Court.
 Andrew and Amber Wehrle pleaded guilty to possessing and disseminating child pornography on Wednesday.

Andrew and Amber Wehrle
Source: Fayette County Sheriff’s Office

Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced the 2021 case was a result of an investigation Raoul’s office conducted into an alleged child pornography ring operating in Fayette County and is part of Raoul’s ongoing work, in collaboration with federal law enforcement agencies and local law enforcement officials throughout Illinois, to apprehend offenders who download and trade child pornography online.
Andrew Wehrle, 39, pleaded guilty to two counts of dissemination of child pornography and one count of production of child pornography. He could be sentenced to a total up to 26 years in prison —  9 years each for  the dissemination and 8 years for child porn production. The terms would be consecutive, according to online court records.
Amber Wehrle, 38, pleaded guilty to two Class 2 felony counts of possession of child pornography and one Class 1 felony count of indecent solicitation of an adult. She may be sentenced to up to 13 total years in prison, with 3 years each for both possession counts and 7 years for the indecent solicitation charge.
“Child pornography is a heinous crime, and I am pleased these predators are being held accountable for exploiting innocent children,” Raoul said. “I am committed to stopping offenders who prey on our children, and my office will continue to partner with local law enforcement agencies to protect Illinois communities.”
Online court records state that the victims agree with the plea agreement.
According to a press release, in March 2021, Raoul’s investigators, with the assistance of the Vandalia Police Department, conducted a search of a residence in the 600 block of North Fourth Street in Vandalia. Authorities arrested Andrew and Amber Wehrle soon after discovering evidence of child pornography as part of the investigation.
The search was conducted in connection to child pornography charges Raoul’s office filed in 2021 against another Vandalia man, Ferrell Mason Kissiar, 47, who is also a former pastor in Patoka.
According to archives, Kissiar was charged with three counts of disseminating child pornography, two counts of possessing child pornography, one count of reproducing child pornography, one count of indecent solicitation of an adult, and one count of conspiracy to commit aggravated criminal sexual abuse.
Kissiar’s trial is scheduled June 20 in Fayette County Circuit Court. A final pre-trial hearing is set for June 7 at 1:30 p.m.
The sentencing hearings for Andrew and Amber Wehrle will be imposed at a later date after the co-defendant Kissiar case is completed, according to online court records.
“As law enforcement officials, it is our responsibility to protect children from harm and bring those who exploit them to justice,” said Vandalia Police Chief Jeff Ray. “I commend the diligent work of all those involved in this investigation and hope that the outcome of this case serves as a reminder that child pornography is a serious crime that will not be tolerated in our communities.”
About the Illinois Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force
The cases are part of Attorney General Raoul’s work to investigate and prosecute child pornographers in Illinois. Raoul’s office, with a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, runs the Illinois Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force that investigates child exploitation crimes and trains law enforcement agencies. The task force receives CyberTips, or online reports of child pornography, from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Over the last several years, CyberTipline reports have steadily increased. In 2022, reports to the ICAC increased by 26 percent over 2021.
Illinois’ ICAC Task Force is one of 61 ICAC task forces throughout the country and is comprised of a network of more than 175 local, county, state and federal law enforcement agencies. Since 2019, the Attorney General’s ICAC Task Force has received more than 30,400 CyberTips and has been involved in more than 485 arrests of sexual predators. Since 2006, the Attorney General’s ICAC Task Force has been involved in more than 1,958 arrests of sexual predators. The task force also has provided internet safety training and education to more than 1 million parents, teachers and students, in addition to more than 23,844 law enforcement
professionals.
Raoul said in a statement that online child sexual exploitation can be reported at www.cybertipline.com, and child abuse can be reported at dcfsonlinereporting.dcfs.illinois.gov. In addition, local child advocacy centers can be found at www.childrensadvocacycentersofillinois.org.
Deputy Bureau Chief Shannon M. O’Brien and Assistant Attorney General Katherine Hagerty from Raoul’s High Tech Crimes Bureau prosecuted this case.