Decatur man gets 50 years for sexually abusing children as young as 2, recording acts

URBANA — A Decatur man has been sentenced to 50 years in prison for the sexual exploitation of three minors and facilitating the recording of their abuse.

U.S. District Court Judge Colin S. Bruce handed down the sentence Friday to Kevin Dial, 52, after a jury convicted him in a three-day trial in October of sexual exploitation of minors, receipt of child pornography and possession of child pornography.

Evidence presented during the sentencing hearing in Urbana showed that Dial directed the sexual abuse of three minors, including a 2-year-old, and ordered that it be recorded, according to a release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of Illinois.

The government also presented a statement written by one of the victims detailing the trauma he suffered as a result of Dial’s actions.

Bruce described Dial’s actions as “horrific,” said this case was one of the worse that had come before him, and noted that the defendant had destroyed the lives of his victims.

“The acts by this defendant are beyond comprehension,” U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Harris said.

“The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work tirelessly to protect the most vulnerable among us and seek justice for these innocent victims.”

“From Decatur, Illinois, to the Philippines, the FBI’s extensive reach delivered justice to children who were victims of one of the worst child-sexual-abuse cases we have seen in some time,” said David Nanz, special agent in charge of the FBI’s field office in Springfield.

“The investigation, which resulted in a significant sentence, demonstrates the FBI’s commitment to use the full strength of our authority to protect children.”

Dial faced 15 to 30 years in prison on each count of sexual exploitation of children and up to 20 years for receiving and possessing child pornography.

The penalties were ordered to be served consecutively.

The case was investigated by the FBI’s Springfield office with assistance from the Philippine National Police. Assistant U.S. attorneys Rachel Ritzer and Nathan Bertrand represented the government in the prosecution.