Prior Sex Offender Sentenced to 20 Years for Receiving, Possessing Child Pornography

KANSAS CITY, MO—Beth Phillips, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Branson, Missouri man was sentenced in federal court today for possessing and receiving child pornography over the Internet.

Michael D. McCullough, 42, of Branson, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs this morning to 20 years in federal prison without parole. McCullough, who was convicted of attempted aggravated incest in Shawnee County, Kansas in 1994, was sentenced as a prior sex offender.

On Oct. 28, 2009, McCullough pleaded guilty to receiving child pornography over the Internet and to possessing child pornography. McCullough admitted that he obtained child pornography from the Internet using both a computer he rented and a computer at a public library.

According to the plea agreement, the Federal Bureau of Investigation received more than 60 CyberTipline reports related to McCullough’s online activity. Investigators seized a computer at his residence, which contained images of child pornography.

This case is being prosecuted by U.S. Attorney Beth Phillips. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Project Safe Childhood

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ 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 via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.