Lewiston Man Gets 20 Years for Child Porn

PORTLAND, Maine – Harold Clayton III, 35, of Lewiston, Maine, will spend the next two decades behind bars after being sentenced today in U.S. District Court for possessing and distributing horrific child sexual abuse material. Chief U.S. District Judge Lance E. Walker handed down the 20-year prison sentence, followed by 10 years of supervised release, to the depraved individual who preyed on innocence.

The case unraveled after the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit (MSPCCU) received two critical CyberTips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) in June 2022. These tips, flagged by vigilant citizens, led investigators to a phone number traced directly to Clayton. A subsequent search warrant executed in September 2022 at Clayton’s residence revealed a digital cesspool of abuse. A cell phone and laptop seized from the property contained multiple images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children, some disturbingly young – toddlers subjected to unimaginable exploitation by adult men.

But the depravity didn’t stop at possession. Investigators discovered, through communications on the Telegram Messenger app, that Clayton wasn’t merely a collector, but an active distributor of this vile content, spreading the abuse further and re-victimizing the children depicted. Clayton pleaded guilty on March 26, 2025, acknowledging his culpability in this sickening crime. The investigation was a joint effort between Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), MSPCCU, and the Lewiston Police Department.

“HSI commends the reporting of this heinous abuse of children to the CyberTip line, enabling law enforcement to take action and make sure Harold Clayton faced the full weight of justice,” stated HSI New England Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Krol. “It is critically important the public join us in this fight against online child sexual exploitation by reporting suspicious activity. Together, we can protect and safeguard our children.” The CyberTipline is a vital resource, and its effectiveness hinges on public vigilance.

The grim reality is that child sexual abuse material isn’t a victimless crime. These images and videos document ongoing abuse and inflict further trauma on the children involved every time they are viewed. In 2023 alone, NCMEC received a staggering 36 million reports of such material. If you encounter or suspect the possession, distribution, manufacture, or receipt of child sexual abuse material, report it immediately to NCMEC at https://report.cybertip.org or call 1-800-843-5678. If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted or abused in Maine, reach out to the 24-hour statewide helpline at 1-800-871-7741.

This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a national initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat online child exploitation. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, the project aims to locate, apprehend, and prosecute predators, and to rescue victims. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psc. This sentencing serves as a harsh reminder that those who exploit children will be relentlessly pursued and brought to justice.

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