FAYETTEVILLE -- A Rogers man was sentenced Wednesday to federal prison on child pornography charges.
Craig Goettsch, 53, was sentenced in Fayetteville by U.S. District Judge Tim Brooks to five years in prison followed by five years of supervised release for possession of child pornography.
"Today's sentence is a reminder that we will not rest in our efforts to identify, investigate, and prosecute those who commit crimes against our children," U.S. Attorney Conner Eldridge said in a news release.
According to court records, in May 2013, the Northwest Arkansas Internet Crimes Against Children task force identified a computer that was engaging in the distribution of child pornography using an internet file sharing program.
A subsequent investigation led police to Goettsch's residence in Rogers. His home was searched in January 2014. Police seized several computers and digital storage devices. Goettsch admitted using the internet to download and view child pornography. An examination of the confiscated items revealed thousands of images of child pornography. Some of the minors depicted were as young as 8 years old, police said.
Goettsch pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography Oct. 2.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Assistant United States Attorney Dustin Roberts prosecuted the case.
NW News on 01/29/2015