Related Federal Cases
- Milan Irvin, Child Pornography Possession, California 2024 · Nevada
- Brian Caputo, Receipt and Distribution of Child Pornography, Califo… · Nevada
- Ray Anthony Waller, Child Exploitation, California 2025 · California
- Kyle Travis Colton, Child Sex Abuse Material Receipt, California 2024 · Nevada
- Walter William Onstad, Child Pornography Distribution, Alaska 2023 · Alaska
Westwood Man Sentenced for Child Pornography
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – A Lassen County man has been sentenced to prison for his role in receiving and possessing child pornography.
Bruce Austin Watkins, 43, of Westwood, was sentenced to 7 years and 6 months in prison, followed by 36 months of supervised release, for receiving child pornography, United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced.
According to court documents, law enforcement executed a search at Watkins’s residence on May 6, 2013. Two laptops and an external hard drive seized from Watkins contained 500 videos and 220 images of child pornography that had been collected by Watkins between January 21, 2007, and April 29, 2013.
Among the files were images showing the violent sexual molestation of children as young as toddlers. At the time of the search, Watkins told law enforcement that he had been looking at child pornography online for 15 to 20 years.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Northern Nevada Child Exploitation Task Force. Assistant United States Attorney Kyle Reardon is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.
Watkins’s sentence is a stark reminder of the severity of child pornography crimes and the importance of investigating and prosecuting those who engage in such activities. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and bring you updates as more information becomes available.
Key Facts
- State: California
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
ðŸâ€â€™ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
Sex CrimesSex CrimesSex CrimesSex Crimes