GRANITE CITY – A Granite City man accused of impregnating a 16-year-old and possessing child sexual abuse material of the same victim currently remains in custody.
Eli L. Winters, 26, of Granite City, was charged May 19, 2026, with one count of aggravated criminal sexual assault (a Class X felony), one count of criminal sexual assault (a Class 1 felony), and three counts of child sexual abuse material, including two Class X felonies and one Class 1 felony.
From Dec. 1 to Dec. 31, 2024, Winters allegedly impregnated a then-16-year-old victim after committing an act of sexual assault while standing in a position of trust, authority, or supervision with the victim. He was also reportedly found in possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) depicting himself and the victim engaged in sexual acts.
According to the state’s petition to deny his pretrial release from custody, additional information from a social services agency prompted the Madison County Sheriff’s Office to reopen an investigation into sexual assault allegations regarding Winters and the victim on March 26, 2026.
After the victim gave birth at 17 years old, the Madison County Sheriff’s Office reportedly received information that Winters may have been the father, according to the petition. He was then brought into custody on an unrelated traffic matter, where a buccal swab was taken pursuant to a search warrant and Winters was Mirandized and interviewed.
During his interview with police, Winters allegedly made a series of admissions, including that his phone would contain depictions of sexual acts between himself and the victim. The petition states the victim “was considered a missing and endangered child” and was found to be with Winters as he was taken into custody. Police later found multiple video and image files depicting CSAM contained within Winters’s Google account.
Winters currently remains in custody at the Madison County Jail in the case presented by the Madison County Sheriff’s Office.
All individuals charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
