ALBANY, NEW YORK — Terry L. Shellenberger, 50, of Albany, stood before federal prosecutors this week and admitted he downloaded and possessed child pornography — a sickening relapse by a man already twice convicted of crimes against children. The guilty plea, entered today, marks the latest chapter in a pattern of predatory behavior that has spanned more than a decade.
Shellenberger admitted that on July 21, 2018, while under federal supervised release for a prior child porn conviction, he illegally possessed a cellphone used to download graphic videos of child sexual abuse. He never reported the device to probation officers, as required by law. The phone was discovered during a surprise home visit by U.S. Probation officers — a routine check that uncovered a stash of vile digital evidence.
This isn’t Shellenberger’s first fall from grace. He was previously convicted in 2006 on federal child pornography possession charges — a crime that should have marked him as high-risk and closely monitored. Instead, he reoffended, then compounded his criminal record in 2017 by failing to register as a sex offender — a violation that landed him back in the federal crosshairs.
Now in federal custody, Shellenberger faces a minimum of 10 years and up to 20 years in prison. Upon any future release, he could be monitored for life under court-ordered supervised release. Sentencing is scheduled for September 4, 2019, before Senior U.S. District Judge Lawrence E. Kahn, who will weigh the severity of the crimes under federal sentencing guidelines.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Probation Office for the Northern District of New York and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Barnett is handling the prosecution, ensuring that Shellenberger is held accountable under the full weight of federal law.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, a DOJ initiative launched in 2006 to combat online child exploitation. The program unites federal, state, and local law enforcement to track, arrest, and convict offenders. More information is available at https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Related Federal Cases
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- Niagara Falls Sex Offender Sentenced to 30 Years for Child Pornography Production · New York
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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