Carthage man pleads guilty to child pornography charges

A Carthage man pleaded guilty this morning in U. S. District Court in Springfield to receiving and distributing child pornography.

James Allen Beam, 35, committed the crimes between January 1, 2021 and April 20, 2023, according to the probable cause affidavit.

Attention was focused on Beam, the affidavit said, after a KIK discussion he had with a Fresno, California FBI undercover agent in which Beam said he had a sexual interest in children.

Beam also told the undercover agent he wanted to abduct and rape a child, according to the affidavit.