Aaron William Butcher, Receipt of Child Pornography, Iowa 2022

Council Bluffs, IA - Aaron William Butcher, a 34-year-old man from Cass County, was handed a severe sentence on Tuesday, June 14, 2022, for his involvement in a heinous child pornography offense.

According to the authorities, the case began in February 2021 when a cybertip was sent to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) regarding child pornography being uploaded to a Dropbox account. The email address linked to the account was traced to Butcher, and law enforcement subsequently obtained and executed a search warrant for his Dropbox account and residence in Atlantic, Iowa.

Upon forensic examination of Butcher's electronic devices, investigators uncovered a stash of images and videos of child pornography, as well as numerous conversations between Butcher and individuals he believed to be teenagers. Alarmingly, it was discovered that Butcher had asked for images and videos of child pornography in exchange for money.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement regarding the sentencing. The Cass County Sheriff's Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, Internet Crimes Against Children Unit, all contributed to the investigation.

As a result of the sentencing, Butcher must serve 84 months in prison, followed by a 7-year term of supervised release. He was also ordered to register as a sex offender and pay $12,000 in restitution. It is worth noting that there is no parole in the federal system.

The case was brought under Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative aimed at combating the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. For more information about Project Safe Childhood and resources about internet safety, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.

Aaron William Butcher's actions are a stark reminder of the gravity of child sex crimes and the importance of continued efforts to prevent and prosecute such offenses.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdia/pr/cass-county-iowa-man-sentenced-child-pornography-offense