A Valparaiso man has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for his role in producing and distributing child pornography.
Zachary Berkshire, 32, was sentenced on [no date given] in U.S. District Court in Hammond for one count of enticement of a minor child and two counts of production of child pornography.
According to court documents, Berkshire used a computer connected to the Internet and a cell phone to contact a minor between the ages of 12 and 15 years old between June 2014 and August 2014.
Berkshire persuaded the victim to meet him at a park in Northwest Indiana for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity. Despite knowing the victim was under the age of 15 and after he had sex with her in the park, Berkshire continued to maintain contact with her online and via text message.
Between January 12, 2015, and January 14, 2015, Berkshire sent text messages to the victim requesting close-up pictures of her private parts, which he received.
During the investigation, a second victim was found to be targeted on August 12, 2013, when Berkshire recorded her with a hidden camera in a bathroom of his house without her knowledge for the express purpose of obtaining sexually explicit footage.
This case was the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Indiana State Police. The case was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Toi Denise Houston.
Berkshire is also required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.
Zachary Berkshire, 32, was sentenced to 30 years imprisonment and Supervised Release for life. He is also required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.
Related Federal Cases
- Christopher A. Abraham, Production and Possession of Child Pornography, Indiana 2017 · Indiana
- Mark Nagel, Child Pornography Production, Indiana 2023 · Indiana
- David Michael Reyes, Child Pornography Production, Indiana 2025 · Indiana
- Jimmy R. Mitchell, Child Pornography Production and Possession, Indiana 2018 · Illinois
- Marcus Horston, Production and Distribution of Child Pornography, Indiana 2025 · New Hampshire
Key Facts
- State: Indiana
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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