Child Porn Maker & Fugitive Gets 22 Years Behind Bars

HARRISBURG, PA – In a shocking turn of events, Shane A. Lopez, a 29-year-old man from Mahanoy City, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 22 years in federal prison for creating and possessing child pornography, as well as escaping from a detention facility.

Lopez’s downfall began in November 2020, when he escaped from a residential rehabilitation facility in Harrisburg where he was serving the remainder of his federal drug trafficking sentence. He was eventually apprehended on May 21, 2021, at a residence in Mahanoy City, where police uncovered a stash of child pornography on his phone and other devices.

According to the United States Attorney’s Office, Lopez had amassed over 1,000 images and videos of child pornography, including a disturbing video of an 18-month-old girl. His phone and online accounts revealed a dark and sinister world of child exploitation.

Lopez pleaded guilty to the charges on November 20, 2023, and was subsequently sentenced by United States District Court Judge Christopher C. Conner. The judge handed down a 20-year sentence for the sexual exploitation of children, to be served consecutively with a two-year sentence for the crime of escape.

Lopez will also be subject to five years of supervised release upon his release from prison. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Marshal Service, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Ford prosecuting the case.

This case is a stark reminder of the importance of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.

Lopez’s crimes are a stark reminder of the devastating impact of child exploitation and abuse. His sentence serves as a warning to others who would seek to commit similar crimes.

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