A federal grand jury returned a six-count indictment against Belleville martial arts instructor Christopher M. Horton, 20, of Highland.

Horton is charged with five counts of sexual exploitation of a minor and one count of attempted sexual exploitation of a minor.

The alleged violations took place between May 1 and Feb. 11 in Madison and St. Clair counties, said Stephen R. Wigginton, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Illinois.

Horton also was charged in February in a two-count federal criminal complaint for sexual exploitation of a minor as part of a joint investigation and prosecution by the U.S. Attorney General, the St. Clair County State's Attorney and the Madison County State's Attorney.

Horton is a martial arts instructor who taught in Belleville.

Horton is being held without bond pending trial.

The indictment charges that Horton video recorded himself engaged in sexual activity with three minors and attempted to engage a fourth minor.

A trial date is pending. The offense carries a term of not less than 15 but not more than 30 years in prison, a fine up to $250,000 and a term of supervised release of not less than five years to life after release on each count.

Wigginton said the latest case was part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice. The case was investigated by the Madison County Sheriff's Department, the FBI's Metro East Cyber Crimes and Analysis Task Force and the Highland and Belleville police departments.