Dickinson Co. man sentenced for possessing child pornography

MARQUETTE, MICHIGAN — Shane Eric Hanley, 45, of Norway, Michigan, was
sentenced to 188 months in federal prison for possession of child pornography, U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Miles, Jr. announced today. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge R. Allan Edgar ordered Hanley to serve twenty years of supervised release following his release from prison, to pay $17,769.00 in restitution to victims, and to pay a $100 special assessment. Hanley will also be required to re-register as a sexual offender.

On February 22, 2013, Hanley pleaded guilty to a federal indictment charging him with
possession of child pornography. The investigation into Hanley’s activities began in July 2011 when agents with the Internet Crimes Against Children task force in Grand Rapids, Michigan discovered that Hanley was sharing child pornography via peer-to-peer software on his computer. Subsequent investigation revealed that Hanley had child pornography stored on both his home computer and DVDs. Hanley admitted that he had used peer-to-peer software to locate and download child pornography, which he compared to stamp collecting. Hanley had been previously convicted of criminal sexual conduct in Michigan in 1993 and 1994. Both convictions involved acts with minors. He was a registered sex offender in Michigan.

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 Michigan State Police and Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul D. Lochner.