A Columbia County man has been convicted of producing child pornography, leaving a trail of abuse and exploitation in his wake.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Rickie Sitler, a 57-year-old Berwick resident, pleaded guilty to producing child pornography in federal court.
According to United States Attorney Peter Smith, Sitler admitted to using a four-year-old child to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing images of such conduct. The crime occurred between late November to early December 2014.
Sitler was indicted by a federal grand jury in March 2015, as a result of an investigation by agents of Homeland Security Investigations, the Berwick Police Department, and the Columbia County District Attorney’s Office.
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.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Francis P. Sempa is prosecuting the case, which carries a maximum penalty of 30 years imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine.
Judge A. Richard Caputo scheduled sentencing for July 13, 2015, and warned that a sentence following a finding of guilty is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
As the community continues to grapple with the reality of child exploitation, Grimy Times remains committed to shedding light on the darkest corners of our society and holding those responsible accountable.
Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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