Ryan Harding, Child Pornography, Connecticut 2013

Ryan Harding Sentenced to 12 Years for Child Pornography Offenses

Woodstock, CT - In a disturbing case of child exploitation, Ryan Harding, 29, was sentenced to 144 months of imprisonment, followed by 15 years of supervised release, for receiving and possessing child pornography.

According to court documents and statements made in court, between July 16, 2013 and October 30, 2013, Harding received images and videos of child pornography that he downloaded from individuals via the Internet using a peer-to-peer file sharing program. During a search of the residence on October 30, 2013, law enforcement officers seized computers and a thumb drive. Forensic analysis of Harding’s computers and thumb drive revealed more than 600 image files and videos of child pornography. He also possessed images of a partially naked 13-year-old boy that he knew.

Harding pleaded guilty to one count of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography on November 20, 2014. After his arrest on November 26, 2013, Harding was released on bond and placed on home confinement with GPS monitoring. At the conclusion of today’s sentencing proceeding, he was remanded to custody to begin serving his sentence.

This matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Connecticut State Police Computer Crimes Unit. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Neeraj N. Patel.

This prosecution is part of the U.S. government’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc. To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.

U.S. Attorney Deirdre M. Daly stated, ‘The sentence imposed today reflects the severity of the defendant’s crimes and the need to protect our children from exploitation. We will continue to work tirelessly to bring perpetrators to justice and ensure the safety of our communities.’

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ct/pr/woodstock-man-sentenced-12-years-prison-child-pornography-offenses