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Steven William Acklin, a 28-year-old from Waterloo, Iowa, pleaded guilty to child exploitation offenses in federal court in Cedar Rapids on March 23, 2026. Between January 2024 and September 2024, Acklin persuaded multiple minors to engage in sexually explicit conduct, producing visual depictions of the acts. Additionally, he received child pornography between October 2023 and November 2024. The investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Acklin’s guilty plea is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. The project aims to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children and to identify and rescue victims.
Acklin faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of 50 years’ imprisonment, a $500,000 fine, and a lifetime of supervised release following any imprisonment. Sentencing will be determined by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams after a presentence report is prepared.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Devra T. Hake. Acklin remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. The guilty plea marks a significant step in the pursuit of justice for the victims of Acklin’s crimes.