Lyndonville Man Gets 18 Years for Child Pornography

Lyndonville Man Sentenced to 18 Years for Child Pornography

A Vermont man has been sentenced to 18 years in federal prison for producing, receiving, and possessing child pornography, according to prosecutors.

Benjamin H. Weisinger, 48, of Lyndonville, Vermont, was convicted of the charges in April after a four-day jury trial. The production of child pornography conviction carried a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison.

According to trial testimony and court documents, Weisinger began his sexual abuse of the minor female when she was 9 or 10 years old. The abuse continued for several years and when the minor female was approximately 12 years old, Weisinger had her create sexually explicit videos and had her send him texts of the same conduct.

One of these videos was discovered by the minor’s mother in November 2011, and the mother called the police. A later search of Weisinger’s computer and email accounts revealed numerous sexually explicit videos depicting the same minor female.

The case was investigated by the Vermont State Police, specifically, members of the Special Investigations Unit located in Hyde Park, and the Vermont Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. The Department of Homeland Security also assisted in the investigation.

Weisinger was sentenced by Chief United States District Court Judge Christina Reiss to 216 months in federal prison. The prosecutors on the case were Assistant United States Attorneys Wendy L. Fuller and Paul J. Van de Graaf.

The investigation and prosecution of Weisinger’s case is a significant step in holding perpetrators of child exploitation accountable for their crimes. It also highlights the importance of collaboration between law enforcement agencies in addressing these crimes.

Weisinger’s sentence serves as a reminder that those who engage in child exploitation will face severe consequences for their actions.