HAMMOND, IN – Stacy Newlin, 57, of Merrillville, Indiana, is headed to federal prison after pleading guilty to a sickening crime: the possession and receipt of child pornography. U.S. Attorney Kirsch announced the sentencing today, a small victory in a war against those who prey on the most vulnerable.
District Court Judge Philip P. Simon handed down a 78-month sentence to Newlin, a substantial prison term followed by a decade under supervised release. The judge didn’t stop there, ordering Newlin to pay $18,000 in restitution to the victims whose lives he violated with his depravity. Restitution is a start, but it can never truly compensate for the harm inflicted.
Court documents paint a disturbing picture of Newlin’s obsession. Investigators discovered a massive cache of illicit material on his devices – 933 still images and 82 videos depicting the abuse of children. The investigation revealed a pattern of behavior, stretching back to 2007, where Newlin systematically downloaded this horrific content from the internet. He wasn’t a casual viewer; this was a deliberate, long-term accumulation of exploitation.
The most chilling detail? Many of the images showed children under the age of 12. These aren’t just pixels on a screen; these are stolen childhoods, shattered innocence, and lives forever scarred. The FBI’s GRIT task force, dedicated to combating internet-based crimes against children, led the investigation, tirelessly tracking down the source and bringing Newlin to justice.
Assistant United States Attorney Alexandra McTague skillfully prosecuted the case, presenting the evidence and securing a sentence that, while insufficient in the eyes of many, sends a message that this type of behavior will not be tolerated. The GRIT task force and the US Attorney’s office are continuing to pursue these cases with relentless dedication.
Newlin’s case serves as a grim reminder of the dark underbelly of the internet. The FBI urges anyone with information about child exploitation to come forward. You can report suspected child pornography at the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) or through your local FBI field office. Silence only protects the predators.
Related Federal Cases
- Evansville Man Gets Booked on Child Porn Charges · Indiana
- Lemoore MP Kiper Gets 15 Years for Child Porn · Pennsylvania
- Elkhart Predator: Perry Gets 10 Years for Child Porn · Indiana
- William M. Jones Gets 11+ Years for Child Porn, Gun Crimes · Pennsylvania
- Muncie Man Hilton Sentenced to 50 Years for Child Porn · Indiana
Key Facts
- State: Indiana
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes|Cybercrime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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