N.D. man gets 17 years in child porn case

A federal judge Thursday sentenced a Wahpeton, N.D., man to 17 years in prison on charges relating to having thousands of images of child pornography on his computer.

U.S. District Court Judge Ralph Erickson said in sentencing Jonathan A. Stahl that he took into consideration Stahl’s guilty pleas to two charges and the fact that a jury would not have to look at disturbing images of young children being sexually abused.

“We cause post-traumatic stress in jurors. You can’t unsee these things,” Erickson said.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Klemetsrud Puhl had recommended 20 years, the maximum under guidelines.

She called the images involved, including videos of children as young as 1, “horrific.”

Defense attorney Chris Lancaster had suggested 12 years, given Stahl’s cooperation with the investigation and his willingness to seek treatment.

Erickson said Stahl posed a danger, but said it wouldn’t be good for the system to give the maximum to someone who pleaded guilty because defendants would figure there is no benefit in doing so.

Investigators searched Stahl’s apartment and interviewed him in September 2009.

Stahl told agents about images on his computer and he also said he had a history of sexually touching children, according to federal officials.

A forensic examination of the computer revealed more than 4,000 images and 278 videos depicting children engaged in sexual conduct.

Stahl, who pleaded guilty to one count of possessing and one count of distributing child pornography, told Judge Erickson he was sorry for what he did.

He also said he couldn’t stop his behavior, adding he intentionally used his name online knowing it could lead authorities to him.

“I wanted help. That’s why I did that,” he said.

Dave Olson is a reporter at The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead, which is owned by Forum Communications Co.

Tags: north dakota crime sex , news, child, porn