Thornton Man Sentenced to 160 Months for Child Porn

DAVENPORT, Iowa—The grim saga of Hunter Morgan Uhde, 24, of Thornton, Iowa, reached its dark conclusion on September 11, 2020, when United States District Court Chief Judge John A. Jarvey sentenced him to 160 months in prison for Receiving and Distributing Child Pornography. The United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum delivered the somber news.

Uhde’s journey through the criminal justice system began over a year ago on February 14, 2020, when he pleaded guilty to Count One of a two-count Indictment. His downfall was set in motion by a tip from the Homeland Security Cyber Crimes Center, which had detected suspicious activity on the “Kik” app associated with Uhde between November and December 2018.

Agents descended upon Uhde’s residence in Coralville, Iowa, where they executed a search warrant. The grim discovery awaited them: multiple electronic devices harboring 1,400 images and two videos of child pornography. It was a chilling revelation that would lead to the defendant’s long stretch behind bars.

The forensic examination of Uhde’s devices confirmed his involvement in the sinister world of child pornography. His guilt was as clear as day when it was revealed he had possessed these harrowing images and participated in associated illicit activities.

This case, a testament to the relentless pursuit of justice, was investigated by the United States Department for Homeland Security and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa prosecuted the case with unwavering dedication.

Upon his release from prison, Uhde must serve five years of supervised release, pay $100 to the Crime Victims’ Fund, restore $27,000 to his victims, and comply with sex offender registry requirements. His sentence is a stark reminder that the justice system will not tolerate the exploitation of innocent children.

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