Richard Jay Sharp Indicted on Child Porn Charges

CINCINNATI — A 53-year-old Fairfield man is facing federal charges for producing and possessing child pornography, including graphic material depicting children under the age of 12. Richard Jay Sharp was indicted by a federal grand jury on one count of production and two counts of possession of child pornography, according to documents unsealed in Cincinnati.

The indictment, announced by U.S. Attorney Benjamin C. Glassman and Steve Francis, Acting Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), alleges Sharp distributed child pornography in June 2015. The material was sent via Internet links during a digital exchange with undercover investigators — a conversation that exposed his criminal activity to federal authorities.

In October 2015, Sharp allegedly possessed and downloaded explicit images of children under 12 using a work-issued laptop and a thumb drive. The use of company equipment to store and transfer such material adds a layer of brazenness to the charges, federal prosecutors say. The indictment does not name the employer, but investigators confirmed the device was not authorized for personal use.

Sharp now faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 20 years in prison for the distribution charge. Each count of possession carries a maximum sentence of 10 years. If convicted, he could spend decades behind bars under strict federal sentencing guidelines for crimes involving the sexual exploitation of children.

The investigation was a joint effort between U.S. Homeland Security Investigations and the Australian Federal Police, whose cooperation led to the identification and tracking of digital footprints across international networks. U.S. Attorney Glassman credited the collaboration as critical in building the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy D. Oakley is leading the prosecution.

An indictment is not a conviction — Richard Jay Sharp is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. Anyone with information related to this case is urged to contact Homeland Security Investigations at 866-347-2423. Tips may remain anonymous.