Huber Heights man sentenced to statutory maximum 20 years in prison for possessing more than 3,400 images of child pornography

DAYTON, Ohio – A Huber Heights man who possessed more than 3,400 images and 800 videos of child pornography has been sentenced to 240 months in prison, the maximum sentence provided under federal law for possession of child pornography.

Stephen E. Kirby II, 38, was also sentenced to 10 years of supervised release as a sex offender.

According to court documents filed when Kirby pleaded guilty in June 2020 to one count of possession of child pornography, Kirby used multiple internet message services to receive and distribute child pornography files and to communicate with others about the sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children. One of the people Kirby contacted in 2019 was actually an undercover FBI agent investigating child pornography trafficking. Kirby was taken into custody following his plea and remains in custody.

“Kirby received the maximum sentence because of the brazen and flagrant way he committed his crimes, resuming his criminal behavior about a month after the Bureau of Prisons released Kirby following his 2013 conviction for distribution of child pornography,” said Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio. “Kirby demonstrated that nothing short of prison would keep him from engaging in child sexual exploitation crimes.  Federal law is set up to deal harshly with repeat offenders who victimize children.”

Chris Hoffman, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), joined Acting U.S. Attorney Patel in announcing the sentence handed down July 20 by U.S. District Judge Thomas M. Rose. Assistant United States Attorney Christina E. Mahy is representing the United States in this case.

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