Evansville Man Gets Booked on Child Porn Charges

EVANSVILLE, IN – Alan E. Claridge, Jr., 46, of Evansville, Indiana, is facing a lengthy prison sentence after a jury found him guilty of sickening crimes against children. Claridge was convicted on two counts of possession of sexually explicit material involving minors and three counts of receipt of such material, following a two-day trial before Chief Judge Richard L. Young.

The case, spearheaded by United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler, stemmed from a 2012 FBI investigation targeting individuals sharing and possessing child pornography online. An FBI task force officer discovered a computer openly sharing files depicting minors in sexually explicit poses and acts. The trail led directly to Claridge, whose internet service provider identified his Evansville address through the computer’s IP address.

Law enforcement didn’t just find old files. When they executed a search warrant at Claridge’s residence on February 19, 2013, they caught him in the act – actively downloading more child pornography. Claridge freely admitted to searching for and downloading such material, even revealing he used search terms commonly associated with the abuse of children. This wasn’t a passive collection; he was actively seeking it out.

The subsequent forensic examination of Claridge’s laptop and other storage devices uncovered a horrifying trove of videos depicting the sexual exploitation of minors. The evidence presented in court painted a disturbing picture of a man deliberately exposing himself to the most vulnerable victims imaginable. Minkler minced no words, stating, “Protecting the most vulnerable of our society is a responsibility I take personally and remains a high priority in this office…Every time child pornography is viewed on the internet it revictimizes a child.”

Assistant United States Attorneys Todd Shellenbarger and Kyle Sawa successfully prosecuted the case, laying out the damning evidence before the jury. Claridge now faces up to 20 years behind bars. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for January 17, 2017, back before Chief Judge Young. This conviction sends a clear message: those who prey on children will be relentlessly pursued and brought to justice.

The investigation was a joint effort between the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Evansville Police Department, highlighting the importance of interagency cooperation in combating these heinous crimes. Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the sentencing.