Spencer Man Caught with Over 1,500 Images of Child Pornography
A Spencer man has been sentenced to over 4 years in federal prison for his involvement in a disturbing child pornography case.
According to court records, Leighton Marshal Jones, 42, of Spencer, Iowa, pleaded guilty to Possession of Child Pornography on August 18, 2023. The charges stemmed from an investigation that uncovered a staggering cache of over 1,500 images of child pornography on multiple electronic devices.
Jones admitted to officers that he downloaded the child pornography in approximately 2012, claiming he had no interest in it but kept it because it was ‘different’ and he ‘knew he would not be able to get it again if he deleted it.’ The images included material that portrayed toddlers, bestiality, and sadistic and masochistic conduct.
At his sentencing hearing on January 4, 2024, evidence presented by the prosecution revealed that Jones had been in possession of the illicit material for nearly six years, from January 1, 2012, to December 7, 2017.
Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand of the United States District Court in Sioux City handed down a 51-month prison sentence, accompanied by a $14,000 restitution order to several victims. Jones will also serve a 5-year term of supervised release after completing his prison term.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigations and Spencer Police Department, with Assistant United States Attorney Kraig R. Hamit leading the prosecution.
Jones is currently being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison to begin serving his sentence.
Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is 23-CR-4015.
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Related Federal Cases
- James P. Perez, Child Pornography Possession, Miami FL, 2024 · California
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- Brandon Phinney, Possession of Child Pornography, Clear Lake IA, 2011 · Iowa
- Jeremiah Romo, Possession of Child Pornography, IA, 2013 · Iowa
- Robert Baumhover, Possession of Child Pornography, Dubuque IA, 2014 · Iowa
Key Facts
- State: Iowa
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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