Robert D. Thorson, Child Pornography, Washington 2016

Robert D. Thorson, a 58-year-old former Des Moines, Washington resident, has been found guilty of producing and possessing images of child pornography. On May 30, 2016, Thorson was arrested after his girlfriend discovered the explicit images on his phone, sparking a police investigation.

Following a three-day trial, a U.S. District Court jury delivered a guilty verdict, announced U.S. Attorney Annette L. Hayes. The jurors heard testimony regarding the disturbing images found on Thorson’s phone, computer, thumb drives, and DVDs.

According to court records and trial testimony, Thorson’s girlfriend initially examined his phone in search of evidence of him seeing other women. Instead, she found images of Thorson molesting young girls who lived in her home. The woman promptly called Des Moines Police, leading to Thorson’s arrest. During the investigation, authorities discovered images depicting Thorson molesting sleeping children, with his clothing, tattoos, and body parts visible in some of the images.

The evidence also revealed that Thorson had installed a hidden camera in a bathroom at the home, capturing minor children using the bathroom and shower. Furthermore, while Thorson was in custody, he sent threatening letters to his former girlfriend, demanding that she alter her statements to police.

Production of child pornography carries a mandatory minimum sentence of fifteen years in prison. Chief U.S. District Judge Ricardo S. Martinez has scheduled Thorson’s sentencing for March 12, 2017. The case was investigated by the Des Moines Police Department and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stephen Hobbs and Special Assistant United States Attorney Cecelia Gregson, a Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney specially designated to prosecute child exploitation cases in federal court.

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