April Nicole Pitchford, Child Pornography, North Carolina 2023

Child Predator Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison

In a shocking case of child exploitation, April Nicole Pitchford, 31, of Mint Hill, N.C., has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for producing child pornography. The harsh sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Robert J. Conrad Jr. in the Western District of North Carolina.

Pitchford's crimes began in October 2016, when she sexually abused a four-year-old victim and created a video depicting sexually explicit conduct with the minor. The video was then sent via text message to another individual.

On November 27, 2018, Pitchford pleaded guilty to production of child pornography. She is currently in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.

The production of child pornography is a federal crime that carries severe penalties. All federal sentencings are served without the possibility of parole. Pitchford will also be required to register as a sex offender after she is released from prison.

The investigation into Pitchford's crimes was a collaborative effort between ICE's Homeland Security Investigations, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, the Rowan County Sheriff's Office, and the Mint Hill Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cortney Randall of the U.S. Attorney's Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Launched in May 2006, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.

Pitchford's sentence serves as a stark reminder of the severity of child exploitation crimes and the importance of holding perpetrators accountable. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and provide updates as more information becomes available.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdnc/pr/sex-offender-sentenced-30-years