Avonmore Predator Shearer Admits to Exploiting Minor

PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A Westmoreland County man has confessed to a sickening crime: the production of sexually explicit material featuring a minor. Timothy Eugene Shearer, 54, of Avonmore, pleaded guilty in federal court today, admitting to coercing a child into performing for the camera.

According to court documents, Shearer engaged in this depraved behavior on two separate occasions – once between February and September 2009, and again in October 2006. He not only produced the videos and images but actively persuaded, induced, and coerced the minor into participating, as stated by United States Attorney David J. Hickton.

The indictment detailed that Shearer possessed multiple digital files, including videos and images, depicting the exploitation. This isn’t a case of simply possessing such material; Shearer was the architect of its creation, actively preying on a vulnerable victim. The details are deliberately withheld to protect the victim and avoid further traumatization.

United States District Judge Mark R. Hornak has scheduled sentencing for August 7, 2013, at 1:30 p.m. Shearer faces a potential sentence of up to 30 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, or both. The final sentence will be determined by the seriousness of the offense and Shearer’s criminal history, if any, according to federal sentencing guidelines.

Assistant United States Attorney Jessica Lieber Smolar is leading the prosecution. The investigation, a grim reminder of the predators lurking in our communities, was conducted jointly by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pennsylvania State Police. This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a national initiative dedicated to combating the horrific epidemic of child sexual abuse.

Project Safe Childhood, launched in 2006, brings together federal, state, and local law enforcement to identify, apprehend, and prosecute those who exploit children. It also focuses on rescuing victims and providing them with the support they desperately need. More information on this crucial initiative can be found at www.justice.gov/psc. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the sentencing.