A 32-year-old man from Woolwich, Maine, has pleaded guilty to possessing images of child exploitation, as announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Donald E. Clark. Clifton Given, 32, faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and a term of supervised release of at least five years and up to life.
According to court records, on June 18, 2020, investigators with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) executed a search warrant at Given’s residence. In an interview with investigators, Given admitted to using his cell phone to view images of children engaged in sex. Investigators later found several images and videos on his cell phone depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
Clifton Given pleaded guilty to the charges of possessing images of child exploitation. 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. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, 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.
The HSI and the Sagadahoc County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Clifton Given will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Given’s guilty plea marks a significant step in the prosecution of child exploitation cases in Maine. The investigation and subsequent guilty plea demonstrate the commitment of law enforcement agencies to protecting children from exploitation and abuse.
Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative that aims to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. The initiative has resulted in the prosecution of thousands of individuals who have exploited children via the internet. Given’s guilty plea is a testament to the effectiveness of this initiative in bringing perpetrators to justice.
This case serves as a reminder of the importance of vigilance in protecting children from exploitation and abuse. It also highlights the need for continued efforts to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.
Related Federal Cases
- Steven Parker, Distributing and Possessing Child Pornography, Maine 2026 · Texas
- Carl Loomis, Receiving and Possessing Child Pornography, Maine 2020 · Maine
- Steven Tutt, Child Pornography Possession, Maine 2024 · Maine
- Steven Tutt, Child Pornography Possession, Maine 2016 · Maine
- Jay Scott Cloutier, Child Pornography and Coercion, Maine 2024 · New York
Key Facts
- State: Maine
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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