KANSAS CITY, MO – Clark H. Henshaw, 37, of Lee’s Summit, Missouri, will spend the next decade in federal prison after being sentenced today for the grim and calculated distribution of child pornography. U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips handed down a 10-year sentence without the possibility of parole, a harsh but warranted punishment for a predator who preyed on the most vulnerable.
The case unraveled in July 2013 when federal agents began investigating a man in Bangor, Maine, actively trading in horrific images on a photo-sharing website. Henshaw quickly emerged as a key partner in this depraved exchange, receiving and distributing images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of two young boys, aged 6 to 7. Disturbingly, Henshaw’s co-conspirator claimed to have created the material he was sharing – a chilling detail that highlights the scope of this exploitation.
Investigators traced 34 images of child pornography back to the Maine source, several of which directly depicted Henshaw’s own acts of sexual abuse against the prepubescent boys. Henshaw didn’t stop at receiving; on August 20, 2013, he forwarded these sickening images to other individuals via email, further spreading the abuse and compounding his crimes. He thought he could hide in the digital shadows, but federal agents were closing in.
On February 13, 2014, federal agents executed a search warrant at Henshaw’s residence. The scene was far from cooperative. Agents were forced to breach the door as Henshaw and his mother refused to answer. Inside, they seized Henshaw’s cell phone, which contained a further 10 downloaded files of child pornography – a digital vault of unimaginable depravity. The evidence was overwhelming.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Teresa Moore successfully prosecuted the case, with critical investigative work provided by Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). This conviction is a direct result of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 to aggressively combat the escalating epidemic of child sexual abuse. The project focuses on identifying, arresting, and prosecuting those who exploit children, and rescuing victims from these horrors.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the dark underbelly of the internet and the relentless efforts of law enforcement to protect children. Project Safe Childhood continues to mobilize federal, state, and local resources, sending a clear message: those who exploit children will be held accountable. Resources for internet safety education are available at www.usdoj.gov/psc. If you suspect child exploitation, report it immediately to the authorities.
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Key Facts
- State: Missouri
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes|Cybercrime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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