Former Deputy Sheriff Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison on Child Exploitation Charges

DAYTON, OH—Dustin Hensley, 30, of Springfield, Ohio, was sentenced to 300 months in prison for producing, distributing, and possessing child pornography. Hensley was a deputy sheriff in Clark County, Ohio, until he was arrested on the child exploitation charges.

Carter M. Stewart, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Kevin R. Cornelius, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); Clark County Sheriff Gene Kelly, Clark County Prosecutor D. Andrew Wilson; and members of the Franklin County Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Judge Timothy S. Black.

According to court documents, Hensley produced a sexually explicit video involving a minor earlier this year. He also distributed or attempted to distribute one or more visual depictions of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct and knowingly possessed images of child pornography. FBI agents and Clark County deputies arrested Hensley in July 2013. Hensley pleaded guilty on November 7, 2013, to one count each of production of child pornography, distribution of child pornography, and possession of child pornography.

Hensley was also sentenced to 10 years of supervised release, to be served following his prison term. During that time, he will be subject to various conditions, including restrictions and/or prohibitions of his computer usage, installation of monitoring software on any of his computers, prohibitions on his possession of obscenity in any form, participation in recommended treatment programs, and complete disclosure of any contact with minor children. If he violates one or more of the conditions of any supervised release imposed, he may be returned to prison for all or part of the term of supervised release.

The Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act requires that Hensley register as a sex offender following his prison term and keep his registration current anywhere that he lives, works, or goes to school. He must update his registration no later than three business days after any change of his residence, employment, or student status.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as to identify and rescue victims.

U.S. Attorney Stewart commended the investigation by the FBI, Clark County Sheriff, Clark County Prosecutor, and the Franklin County ICAC, as well as Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex R. Sistla, who is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States, and Assistant Clark County Prosecutor Amy M. Smith, who is prosecuting Mr. Hensley on state charges.