Auburn Man Sentenced on Child Pornography Charges

MONTGOMERY, AL—Douglas Burl Breland, 50, of Auburn, Alabama, was sentenced to serve 60 months in federal prison for possessing child pornography, United States Attorney George L. Beck, Jr., announced today. Breland pled guilty to the charges back in June 2012. The sentence of five years was handed down by United States District Judge William K. Watkins.

The investigation of Breland began in November 2010, when officers with the Auburn Police Department found a flash drive in Breland’s residence that contained over 2,000 images depicting children being sexually abused and raped. When questioned, Breland admitted that he was in possession of child pornography. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children was able to identify the child victims in 2,186 images Breland possessed.

“Child pornography is a despicable crime that destroys children, families, and the community,” said U.S. Attorney Beck. “Let me be clear—my office will vigorously prosecute those predators who steal a child’s youth and innocence.”

This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 that aims to combat the proliferation of technology-facilitated sexual exploitation crimes against children. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices, 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.

The investigation of this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigations and the Auburn Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Nathan D. Stump and Jared H. Morris prosecuted the case.