Timothy J. Carpenter, a 36-year-old man from Portage, Indiana, was sentenced to 17.5 years in prison for the possession and creation of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). His case came to the attention of law enforcement in July 2022 when he used peer-to-peer software to knowingly distribute and receive CSAM through his cell phone. Investigations by the Indiana State Police (ISP) uncovered hundreds of disturbing images and videos on Carpenter’s phone, all depicting the sexual abuse of children.
During the investigation, Carpenter confessed to using his phone to access child sexual abuse material, and further examination revealed that he had created explicit videos featuring a prepubescent child. The videos showed him deliberately positioning a camera to capture nude footage of the child in a shower. Such actions highlighted the severity of Carpenter’s crimes, leading to his substantial sentence.
In addition to prison time, Carpenter is mandated to register as a sex offender wherever he lives, works, or studies. He is also required to pay $76,000 in restitution to victims, emphasizing the financial and emotional toll of his actions on those harmed. The coordinated efforts of various law enforcement agencies, including Homeland Security Investigations and the ISP, played an essential role in bringing Carpenter to justice.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative established by the Justice Department in 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. The project engages federal, state, and local resources to effectively locate and prosecute offenders while working to identify and protect victims of such crimes, underscoring the ongoing commitment to address this serious issue.
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