Attica Man Gets 10 Years for Child Pornography

HAMMOND, IN – James Venable, 63, of Attica, Indiana, will spend the next decade in federal prison after pleading guilty to Possession of Child Pornography. The sentence, handed down by United States District Court Judge Gretchen S. Lund, reflects the severity of the crime and Venable’s prior conviction for the same offense.

Venable received 120 months (10 years) imprisonment, followed by 5 years of supervised release. Judge Lund also ordered Venable to pay $8,000 in restitution to the victims impacted by his actions. The details of the case reveal Venable possessed the illegal material on or around September 13, 2022, while already a convicted offender.

This wasn’t a solo operation. Homeland Security Investigations spearheaded the investigation, bolstered by the Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, the Indiana State Police, including their Digital Forensics Unit, the Warren County Sheriff’s Office, and the United States Marshals Service Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force. The collaborative effort underscores the multi-agency approach taken to combat these heinous crimes.

Assistant United States Attorney Emily Morgan prosecuted the case, securing the significant sentence against Venable. The prosecution highlighted the repeated nature of the offense, demonstrating a clear pattern of predatory behavior and disregard for the law. The $8,000 restitution order aims to provide some measure of support to those harmed by Venable’s actions, though no amount of money can truly compensate for the abuse.

This case falls under the umbrella of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide Department of Justice initiative launched in 2006. The program focuses on the aggressive investigation, prosecution, and rescue of victims involved in child exploitation and abuse. It pools resources from federal, state, and local agencies to dismantle networks of predators and protect vulnerable children.

Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on efforts to combat online exploitation. Those seeking more information about Project Safe Childhood can visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov. If you suspect child exploitation, contact your local law enforcement agency or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678).

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