DAYTON, OHIO — James Edward Risner, III, 34, of New Carlisle, Ohio, was sentenced to 480 months in federal prison for producing and distributing graphic images of child rape, marking one of the most disturbing child exploitation cases to emerge from the Southern District of Ohio in recent years.
Risner admitted to engaging in repeated sexual acts with a 7-year-old girl under his care, capturing nearly 70 digital photographs of the abuse. He then uploaded the material to at least one online platform, exposing the images to a global network of predators. The acts occurred multiple times, each a calculated betrayal of trust and a violation of the most innocent.
U.S. District Judge Timothy S. Black handed down the sentence yesterday in U.S. District Court. Risner had previously pleaded guilty on September 8 to one count of production and one count of distribution of child pornography. His actions were not isolated—they reflected a pattern of predation enabled by access and opportunity.
This morning, Risner was also sentenced in Clark County Common Pleas Court to 15 years to life on related child rape charges. As part of a coordinated plea agreement, the state sentence will run concurrently with the federal term. He will face lifetime supervised release upon any future incarceration, with strict monitoring protocols.
“Actions like Risner’s extensive manipulation of this child victim result in lifelong and devastating physical, psychological, and emotional suffering,” said U.S. Attorney Benjamin C. Glassman. “This sentence reflects the severity of his crimes and the federal commitment to holding exploiters accountable. No child should endure this horror at the hands of someone who was supposed to protect them.”
The investigation was a joint effort by the FBI’s Cincinnati Field Division, led by Special Agent in Charge Angela L. Byers, and the Clark County Sheriff’s Office under Sheriff Gene A. Kelly. Clark County Prosecutor D. Andrew Wilson, along with Assistant U.S. Attorney Dwight K. Keller and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy M. Smith, prosecuted the case, ensuring justice was pursued at every level.
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