Michigan Pedophile Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Traveling to West Virginia to Engage in Illegal Sexual Conduct with a Child
U.S. Attorney’s Initiative to Fight Child Exploitation Has Surpassed 100 Years of Total Prison Time for Convicted Pedophiles Since January 2012
| U.S. Attorney’s Office June 10, 2013 |
HUNTINGTON, WV—A 34-year-old Michigan pedophile was sentenced today to 12 years in prison, followed by 20 years of supervised release, for traveling in interstate commerce with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor, announced U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin. Ashlee C. Liebert, of Whitmore Lake, Michigan, previously pleaded guilty in October 2012. Beginning in November 2011 through March 2012, Liebert established a relationship with a 12-year-old minor residing in Putnam County, West Virginia. During that five-month period, Liebert communicated with the minor using e-mail and a cell phone. The defendant had numerous conversations with the minor that were sexual in nature and also exchanged sexually explicit photos with the child.
U.S. Attorney Goodwin said, “Pedophiles like Mr. Liebert who target kids and steal their innocence are downright sickening.”
Goodwin continued, “This kind of crime is infuriating. I will continue to spare no effort to make sure that criminals who exploit children are brought to justice.”
On March 10, 2012, Liebert traveled from Michigan to Putnam County, West Virginia, to meet the minor. At the time Liebert traveled from Michigan to Putnam County, he communicated with the minor using his cell phone and told the child that he wanted to have sex. After arriving in Putnam County, Liebert picked the minor up and drove to a location near Cross Creek Road, in Buffalo, West Virginia, and had illegal sexual contact with the minor. Law enforcement officers from the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department discovered Liebert and the minor inside his parked vehicle near Cross Creek Road in Buffalo. Law enforcement officers obtained a search warrant for Liebert’s vehicle.
A Michigan state search warrant was executed on Liebert’s Whitmore Lake residence on March 10, 2012, the same day the defendant was arrested by police in West Virginia. During the execution of the search warrant, officers seized several computers from Liebert’s residence. A forensic review of Liebert’s computers revealed more than 600 images and videos of child pornography. Liebert previously downloaded the images and videos of child pornography using the Internet.
The Putnam County Sheriff’s Department, the FBI, and the Northfield Michigan Township Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Lisa Johnston handled the prosecution. Today’s sentence was handed down by United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers.
This case was brought as part of U.S. Attorney Goodwin’s ongoing initiative to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse in the Southern District of West Virginia. Since January 2012, 22 defendants have been sentenced to a total of more than 108 years (1,297 months) in federal prison.