Stephen Mantha, Child Exploitation, Massachusetts 2015

BOSTON – A former United States Postal Service (USPS) employee has been sentenced to 196 months in prison for sexually exploiting a child, using USPS computers to access child pornography, and possessing child pornography.

Stephen Mantha, 64, of Spencer, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman to 196 months in prison and five years of supervised release.

In February 2018, Mantha pleaded guilty to one count of producing child pornography, one count of accessing child pornography and one count of possessing of child pornography.

In the summer of 2015, investigators from the USPS Office of Inspector General (OIG) were alerted to suspicious internet searches being conducted on a computer at a Shrewsbury postal facility where Mantha worked as an electronic technician.

A search of Mantha’s residence resulted in the recovery of numerous thumb drives containing child pornography. During the review of the materials seized from Mantha’s home, a video was discovered, which had been recorded in approximately 2000 or 2001, depicting Mantha sexually abusing an approximately seven-year-old boy.

Although existing penalties for producing child pornography are substantially higher, the Constitution prohibits the government from subjecting individuals to more stringent penalties adopted after their crimes had been committed.

The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/pr/former-postal-employee-sentenced-196-months-prison-sexually-exploiting-child