Gainesville Man Sentenced for Child Pornography Offenses

GAINESVILLE, GA—CHARLES R. VAN BRACKLE, 49, of Rabun Gap, Georgia, was sentenced today by United States District Judge William C. O’Kelley on charges of receiving child pornography.

Acting United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates said of the case, “The large collection of child pornography that this defendant possessed directly promoted an industry that exploits, molests, and degrades children. This sentence underscores the harsh consequences for people who possess images of children being sexually exploited.”

FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Gregory Jones said, “The protection of our children from individuals who would exploit them is one of the many vital missions of the FBI. The extensive collection of child pornography by the defendant is indicative of an individual who has likely been involved in this exploitive behavior for quite some time. We are appreciative of the sentence handed down today and feel that, as a result, the community is a safer place.”

VAN BRACKLE was sentenced to nine years and two months in prison to be followed by lifetime supervised release. He was also fined $2,000. There is no parole in the federal system. VAN BRACKLE pleaded guilty to the charge on July 17, 2009.

According to Acting United States Attorney Yates and the information presented in court: VAN BRACKLE was identified as a possible child pornography consumer after his name and identifying information were linked to child pornography investigations in Florida, Pennsylvania, and Texas. In January 2009, FBI and GBI agents searched VAN BRACKLE’s home, recovering a computer whose hard drive contained over a thousand images and videos of prepubescent children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The images recovered from the computer were sent to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s Child Victim Identification Program, where many of the children depicted in the images were determined to be known victims of child exploitation.

This case is being brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In February 2006, Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse, was launched. Led by the United States Attorney's Offices around the country, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

This case was investigated by special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

Assistant United States Attorneys Corey Steinberg and Paul Jones prosecuted the case, with assistance from Assistant United States Attorney Gerald Sachs.

For further information please contact Sally Quillian Yates, Acting United States Attorney, or Charysse L. Alexander, Executive Assistant United States Attorney, through Patrick Crosby, Public Affairs Officer, U.S. Attorney's Office, at (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the HomePage for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia is www.usdoj.gov/usao/gan.