Robert D. Thorson Convicted of Child Pornography Production

A former Des Moines, Washington man is headed for a mandatory prison sentence after a federal jury convicted him of producing and possessing child pornography. ROBERT D. THORSON, 58, was found guilty following a three-day trial in U.S. District Court, where jurors heard harrowing testimony about images captured on his electronic devices, including phones, computers, thumb drives, and DVDs.

The case exploded when THORSON’s girlfriend, searching his phone for signs of infidelity, stumbled upon something far more sinister: graphic images of THORSON molesting young girls who lived in her home. Shocked and horrified, she immediately contacted Des Moines Police. The arrest followed on May 30, 2016. What investigators uncovered went beyond abuse—it was a calculated operation to exploit children in the most private moments of their lives.

Forensic analysis revealed THORSON had used a hidden camera in a bathroom to record minor children using the shower and toilet. Additional images showed him adjusting the clothing and bedding of sleeping children to create sexually explicit photos. In multiple frames, THORSON’s tattoos, body parts, and clothing are clearly visible—self-incriminating evidence that left little room for denial.

While in custody, THORSON escalated the crime. He sent threatening letters to his former girlfriend, demanding she recant her statements to law enforcement. Prosecutors presented the letters as proof of consciousness of guilt and an attempt to obstruct justice. The threats only deepened the case against him.

Production of child pornography carries a mandatory minimum sentence of fifteen years in federal prison. THORSON now faces that sentence and more. Chief U.S. District Judge Ricardo S. Martinez has scheduled sentencing for March 12, 2017, where the full weight of his crimes will be measured.

The investigation was conducted by the Des Moines Police Department and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Stephen Hobbs and Special Assistant United States Attorney Cecelia Gregson led the prosecution. Gregson, a Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, is specially designated to handle child exploitation cases in federal court—where predators like THORSON meet their reckoning.