PITTSBURGH—A former resident of Mercer, Pennsylvania has been sentenced in federal court to 40 years’ imprisonment, followed by supervised release for the remainder of his life, on his conviction of production of material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor and possession of material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.

United States District Judge Arthur J. Schwab imposed the sentence on Earl Warner, 56, formerly of Brandy Springs Apartments, Mercer, Pennsylvania.

According to Assistant United States Attorney Carolyn J. Bloch, who prosecuted the case, the evidence presented at trial established that on or about June 4, 2011; June 8, 2011; June 12, 2011; June 13, 2011; July 13, 2011; and July 23, 2011, in the Western District of Pennsylvania, Warner employed, used, persuaded, induced, enticed, and coerced one of three child victims to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing digital photographs and videos of such conduct. Also, on or about April 9, 2012, Warner possessed visual images and videos in computer graphics files, the production of which involved the use of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct, on two memory cards seized during the execution of a search warrant at his home.

Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Schwab stated that Warner’s crimes were depraved and violent and that the production and storing of the photographs and videos of the sexual assault and abuse of minor children permanently recorded that abuse. The judge further described the defendant’s conduct as having created a horrific nightmare for the children to live.

U.S. Attorney Hickton commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Mercer County District Attorney’s Office for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Warner.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.