Weatherbie Gets 10 Years for Child Porn

DAYTON, OH – Garry Weatherbie, 65, of Franklin, Ohio, is headed back to prison after being sentenced to 10 years for possessing hundreds of images depicting the sexual abuse of children. U.S. District Court handed down the sentence today, alongside 10 years of supervised release, after Weatherbie pleaded guilty to the federal charge.

The case, unearthed during a February 2019 investigation into allegations of sexual assault, revealed a sickening collection of over 600 images of child sexual abuse stored on Weatherbie’s tablet. The discovery was particularly damning given Weatherbie’s already extensive criminal history. He was on parole at the time, having recently been released from Chillicothe Correctional Institution after serving an eight-year sentence for pandering sexual material involving a minor – a conviction originally secured in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court.

Investigators with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) took Weatherbie into custody in February 2019. The search of his residence quickly turned up the digital evidence of his depravity. Despite his prior conviction and release, Weatherbie continued down a dangerous path, demonstrating a blatant disregard for the law and the well-being of children.

“This case is a reminder that possessing child pornography is not a victimless crime,” stated U.S. Attorney David M. DeVillers. “Even if you do not create the child pornography, you can face significant time in federal prison.” The sentiment underscores the severity of the offense and the commitment of federal authorities to prosecute those involved in the distribution and possession of such material.

Vance Callender, HSI Special Agent in Charge for Michigan and Ohio, was blunt in his assessment of the case. “Today’s significant sentencing removes from the community a repeat child predator, who shockingly continued his predatory behavior while on parole for similar crimes,” he said. “There is no place in our society for those who prey on children. HSI and its partners will continue to aggressively target those who exploit children.”

The sentence was announced jointly by U.S. Attorney David M. DeVillers, Special Agent in Charge Vance Callender, and Franklin Police Chief Russ Whitman. Assistant United States Attorney Andrew J. Hunt prosecuted the case before Judge Walter H. Rice. Weatherbie’s decade-long sentence serves as a harsh warning to others who might consider engaging in similar abhorrent behavior.