Cambria County Man Gets 18 Years in Prison for Possessing Child Pornography, Transporting Minor Across State Lines for Sex

JOHNSTOWN, PA—A resident of Mineral Point, Pennsylvania has been sentenced in federal court to 216 months in prison and lifetime supervised release on his conviction of possessing child pornography and transporting a minor across state lines with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.

United States District Judge Kim R. Gibson imposed the sentence on Eric S. Dahmen, 25.

According to information presented to the court, on July 27, 2007, Dahmen knowingly possessed pictures and videos in computer files which were produced using minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. The computer files were shipped or transported in interstate or foreign commerce. In addition, from Feb. 8 to 10, 2008, Dahmen transported a then 15-year-old minor female across state lines for the purpose of having the minor engage in criminal sexual activity.

Assistant United States Attorney John J. Valkovci, Jr., prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

U.S. Attorney Hickton commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation/Laurel Highlands Resident Agency, the Pennsylvania State Police/Area III Computer Crimes Task Force, and the Cambria County District Attorney’s Office for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Dahmen.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. Launched in February 2006, Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the 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 identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.