Sterling man charged with disseminating child pornography

STERLING – A 27-year-old Sterling man was in Whiteside County jail Thursday, charged with two counts of disseminating child pornography.

Michael T. Moreno was arrested Wednesday, after the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force 2 team searched his home on 11th Street, State Police said in a news release.

According to the charging documents, on Dec. 31, Moreno shared “a video reproduction or depiction by a computer” of a girl younger than 13 who exposed herself, and on Jan 18, shared another of a girl younger than 13 being sexually assaulted by a man.

Moreno pleaded not guilty and was assigned a public defender on Wednesday. Bond was set at $100,000.

He faces 6 to 30 years in each count if convicted.

ISP was assisted by Homeland Security Investigations and the Sterling Police Department.

The investigation continues, the release said.