A Coffeen man has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for receipt of child pornography. 30 year old Trey Pease of Coffeen was sentenced to 168 months in prison by US District Judge Sue Myerscough. The government presented evidence that between the summer of 2017 and spring of 2018, Pease both solicited and received multiple images of child pornography from a minor. According to authorities, Pease conversed with the minor using an online social application. Pease himself sent an image to the minor.
During the sentencing hearing, Judge Myerscough specifically found that Pease had caused the minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for him and that Pease had used a computer to receive the pornography, and had engaged in a pattern of activity involving prohibited sexual conduct with minors on multiple occasions.
Pease had been indicted in March of 2020 and plead guilty in December of 2021. He had been detained since his arrest in August of 2020. Statutory penalties for receipt of child pornography are no less than five years and up to 20 years in prison, not less than five years and up to life of supervised release, and no more than a $250,000 fine.
ISP investigated the case and Assistant US Attorney Tanner K. Jacobs represented the government.
The case was brought forth as part of Operation Project Safe Childhood. Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative by the DOJ to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Find out more by visiting www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
