SALEM, IL — A Marion County Judge on Tuesday denied the request for bond reduction from a 40-year-old Salem man charged last month with multiple counts possessing child pornography. Judge Mark Stedelin denied Anthony Phillips request to lower the $75,000 bond set in court last week and scheduled a January 25, 2022, pretrial hearing in the case.

Phillips is charged with 10 counts Class 2 felony possession of child pornography depicting a victim under the age of 13. He pleaded not guilty to the charges Tuesday and demanded a jury trial in the case. A trial date was tentatively set Tuesday for mid-February.

Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office Detective Captain Bobby Wallace testified Tuesday regarding what led to the investigation into Phillips, his ultimate arrest and the seizure of evidence from his Salem home. Wallace works with Homeland Security’s Cyber Crimes Task Force and received a tip from the Task Force regarding possible child pornography activity in the area. A search warrant was first secured to search for records to confirm the location of the activity. A second warrant was then secured to search Phillips’ home in Salem. Marion County Sheriff’s deputies assisted with the search of the home at which time evidence in the case was found and seized and Phillips was taken into custody. Judge Stedelin found probable cause to pursue the case against Phillips and for bond to remain at $75,000.

If Phillips is able to post bail, he’s prohibited from accessing the internet or having contact with anyone under the age of 18.