FAYETTEVILLE -- A young man was sentenced Thursday to more than 50 years in federal prison on child pornography charges.
Jesse Oziah, 19, of Fayetteville was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Tim Brooks to 55 years in prison without the possibility of parole followed by 25 years of supervised release for the production of child pornography.
Oziah told investigators he engaged in sexual activity with an 8-year-old boy and took sexually explicit photographs of him, according to an affidavit for an arrest warrant filed in the case. Oziah was in the pictures with the boy.
Oziah told officers he used his computer to view, exchange and download pictures of children engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
Oziah pleaded guilty Feb. 1o to persuading, inducing, enticing or coercing a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct after authorities found multiple images on a computer at his home.
Several other child porn possession charges were dropped as part of a plea bargain.
Authorities were tipped by a social networking site where the porn was being uploaded. An Internet address was provided and a search warrant obtained for Oziah's home.
Oziah faces rape charges in Washington County Circuit Court. If convicted, Oziah could be sentenced to 10 to 40 years or life in prison. His court date is Tuesday.
"Cases in which children are sexually abused are horrifying and astounding. In this case, the defendant assaulted an 8-year-old little boy. This is reprehensible, and the defendant has now been brought to justice," U.S. Attorney Conner Eldridge wrote in a news release. "We will continue to aggressively prosecute cases involving the abuse of children and the production of child pornography to the fullest extent of the law. We will continue to stand up for children throughout Arkansas."
The case was investigated by Homeland Security and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Assistant U. S. Attorney Dustin Roberts prosecuted the case for the United States.
NW News on 08/15/2014