Lafayette Man Gets 235 Months for Child Porn Possession

Mark D. Speer, a 45-year-old Lafayette resident, has been sentenced to 235 months in prison for his role in a disturbing child pornography case. Speer was handed down the sentence by District Court Judge Joseph S. Van Bokkelen in the Northern District of Indiana on [date].

Speer’s crimes began in September 2013, when he was babysitting a three-year-old near Lafayette. During this time, he persuaded the child to remove her clothes and then used his cell phone to record her while making sexually explicit remarks. This was not the only act of exploitation Speer committed, as he also used his email account and cell phone to download more than 100 child pornography photos from the Internet.

This case was the result of a thorough investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Gary T. Bell handled the case, working tirelessly to bring Speer to justice.

The disturbing nature of Speer’s crimes has left many in the community reeling. ‘This is a despicable crime that has caused irreparable harm to the victim and her family,’ said U.S. Attorney David Capp. ‘We will continue to work tirelessly to protect our children from predators like Speer.’

Speer’s sentence includes 235 months of imprisonment, followed by 3 years of supervised release. This is a stark reminder that those who commit such heinous crimes will face severe consequences.

The community is breathing a sigh of relief now that Speer faces justice, but the trauma he inflicted on the child and her family will be a lasting reminder of the importance of vigilance and protection in keeping our children safe.

As the Grimy Times continues to report on this developing story, we urge anyone who may have information on similar crimes to come forward and assist law enforcement in their efforts to protect our children.