HOUSTON – Robert Neal Hatchell, a 59-year-old from the Conroe area of Texas, has been sentenced to federal prison for his despicable deeds of producing and distributing child pornography. According to Acting U.S. Attorney Abe Martinez, Hatchell pleaded guilty on December 19, 2016, to sexually exploiting a child, as well as distribution and possession of child porn.
The judge, Lynn N. Hughes, today imposed sentences of 15 years for the production and distribution charges and an additional 10 years for possession of child pornography. These sentences will run concurrently, along with a $10,000 fine. Following his release from prison, Hatchell is to serve 10 years of supervised release, during which he must comply with stringent restrictions on accessing children and the internet.
Hatchell’s downfall began when he was identified online as “kiddycat” and posted child porn images on a notorious website. Authorities executed a search warrant at his residence, uncovering his sickening production of pornographic images and videos of two minor relatives. He had 26 images and videos of the minors and 10,873 other images and 1,515 videos of child pornography.
Upon his plea, Hatchell confessed to taking sexually explicit photographs and video of the minors, and admitted to distributing these images to others with similar interests in children’s exploitation.
Hatchell will remain in custody until transferred to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility. The FBI conducted the investigation, which was part of Project Safe Childhood, a DOJ initiative aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse.
For more information on Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.
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Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes|Cybercrime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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