Slidell man pleads guilty to possession of child sexual abuse material, faces 20 years in prison

A Slidell man has admitted to possessing child sexual abuse material, announced by U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. Christopher Michael Sommers, 42, pleaded guilty to the charges Wednesday following an investigation that began with an undercover operation by Apache Junction police in Arizona. Sommers, who has a previous conviction for a similar crime, could face up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both.

During a search of Sommers’ home in Slidell on April 3, 2024, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents, along with local law enforcement, found a flash drive containing 950 images and videos of minors in sexually explicit situations. Sentencing in the case is scheduled for December 18, 2024, and Sommers is looking at a mandatory minimum of 10 years due to his previous conviction in 2011 for a similar crime.

Authorities discovered the flash drive while executing a federal search warrant, according to court documents released by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The materials on the ride were part of the evidence that led to Sommers’ guilty plea before U.S. District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo. Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat child exploitation, is credited with the collective effort that brought Sommers to justice.

Sommers now faces not only a lengthy prison sentence and hefty fines, but also supervised release for a period ranging from five years to life after his time behind bars. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. Klebba, chief of the Financial Crimes Unit, is handling Sommers’ prosecution. The success of this case is due to the joint efforts of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, HSI, the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Apache Junction Police Department, and the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation.