Child Porn Defendant gets Five Year Sentence

U.S. Attorney Donald A. Davis announced today that Curnel Wayland Matheny, 61, of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan was sentenced to 63 months in federal prison for possessing child pornography. In addition to the prison term, Senior U.S. District Judge R. Allan Edgar ordered Matheny to serve five years of supervised release following his release from prison, to pay a $100 special assessment, and to register as a sex offender.

On October 11, 2011, Matheny pleaded guilty to a felony information charging him with possession of images of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Matheny entered the United States from Canada on November 17, 2009, and a border search of his laptop computer revealed that he possessed child pornography. Further investigation showed Matheny had used wireless internet service in several locations to access a child pornography website and had engaged in online chats with other child pornographers, posting child pornographic images for viewing and discussion.

This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, county prosecutor’s offices, Internet Crimes Against Children task force (ICAC), federal, state, and local law enforcement are working closely together to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children. The partners in Project Safe Childhood work to educate local communities about the dangers of online child exploitation, and to teach children how to protect themselves. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit the following web site: www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul D. Lochner and investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.