Jonathan May, Child Porn Possession, Nebraska 2017

LINCOLN, NEBRASKA – Jonathan May, 49, of Omaha, Nebraska, is headed to federal prison after being sentenced to 48 months for possessing a sickening trove of child pornography. Senior United States District Judge Richard G. Kopf handed down the sentence on January 4, 2017, in Lincoln, bringing a measure of justice to a particularly vile crime.

The case began to unravel when investigators with the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office flagged an IP address linked to May, actively sharing files online. This digital trail led to a search warrant, executed on June 18, 2014, at May’s residence in Plattsmouth, Nebraska. Contact was made with the defendant, and a forensic examination of his computer revealed the horrifying extent of his depravity.

Investigators uncovered over 500 video files depicting minors – including prepubescent children – engaged in sexually explicit acts. The digital collection wasn’t just random; it included 14 distinct series of child pornography, indicating a deliberate and prolonged pattern of abuse. May wasn’t simply stumbling across this material; he was actively seeking it out and possessing it.

United States Attorney Deborah R. Gilg, announcing the sentence, emphasized the gravity of the crime. “The possession of child pornography is a horrific offense,” she stated. “We will continue to aggressively pursue and prosecute those who exploit and endanger children.” May’s sentence doesn’t end with his prison term. Upon release, he will face five years of supervised release and be required to register as a sex offender, a permanent marker of his crimes.

This prosecution was part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the escalating epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), the project pools federal, state, and local resources to identify, apprehend, and prosecute predators who prey on children online, and to rescue victims.

The Nebraska Attorney General’s Office conducted the investigation, demonstrating a commitment to protecting vulnerable children within the state. Those seeking more information about Project Safe Childhood can visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on similar instances of exploitation and abuse, holding predators accountable for their actions.