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Perry County Couple Sentenced to 47 Years for Child Exploitation
A disturbing case of child exploitation has come to light in Perry County, where a husband and wife were sentenced to a combined 47 years in prison. Betty Jo Eckenberger, 32, and James David Eckenberger, 43, were found guilty of sexually assaulting minors between 2008 and 2011, and taking photographs of those assaults.
According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, the Eckenbergers’ crimes were particularly egregious, involving the exploitation of minors over several years. The judge, Yvette Kane, handed down a sentence of 17 years in prison followed by 15 years of supervised release for Betty Jo Eckenberger, and 30 years in prison followed by 15 years of supervised release for James David Eckenberger.
The investigation into the Eckenbergers’ crimes was led by the Pennsylvania State Police, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney James T. Clancy prosecuted the case, bringing the perpetrators to justice.
The Eckenbergers were ordered to forfeit all electronic equipment used to take the images of their crimes. This case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of holding perpetrators of child exploitation accountable for their actions.
As part of the sentencing, the Eckenbergers were ordered to forfeit their electronic equipment, a significant step towards preventing further exploitation. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.
Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources”.
The sentencing of the Eckenbergers is a significant victory in the fight against child exploitation. It serves as a reminder that perpetrators will be held accountable for their crimes, and that the community will work tirelessly to protect and support victims.
Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Category: Sex Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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