Marion man sentenced to 97 months in prison for child pornography

A Marion man has been sentenced to more than eight years in prison for his child pornography crimes. Michael D. Mitchell, 36, received a 97-month sentence after pleading guilty in May to charges related to receiving and possessing child pornography. In a statement obtained by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, officials stressed their commitment to prosecuting those caught in the web of online child sexual exploitation.

After pleading guilty to two counts of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession, “the U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to prosecute individuals who view and upload child abuse material, and federal prison sentences are warranted for those who contribute to the online sexual exploitation of children,” U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe said, according to court documents that led to the conviction following an online tip from an internet platform user who was uploading child pornography. A subsequent search of Mitchell’s phone by agents turned up eight items categorized as child abuse material.

FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Johnson, of the Springfield Field Office, emphasized the effective cooperation with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in this case. An online tip to the Cyber ​​Tipline, which assists in reporting incidents of sexual exploitation, helped identify Mitchell. “That tip puts another perpetrator behind bars, no longer able to contribute to the distribution of child sexual abuse material,” Johnson said.

After his 97-month incarceration, Mitchell is expected to be placed on supervised release for five years. The investigation, led by the FBI Springfield Field Office, included partners with a strong commitment to protecting the innocence of childhood. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Sanders was responsible for prosecuting the case.