DeMotte Man Sentenced To 210 Months In Prison

HAMMOND- Thomas Spangle, age 42, of DeMotte, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Jon E. DeGuilio on his plea of guilty to receipt of child pornography, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.

Spangle was sentenced to 210 months in prison followed by 15 years of supervised release.

According to the documents in this case, on or about July 19, 2019, Spangle began his 15-year term of supervised release following his conviction for distribution of child pornography.  In March 2021, information was received that Spangle was viewing child pornography on his cellphone while on supervised release.  While being monitored, several potential images of child pornography were identified.  In April 2021, a search warrant was conducted on his electronic devices and a forensic exam revealed his cell phone contained 48 videos files, 31 of which depicted  child pornography.   

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (GRIT) with assistance of the Indiana State Police.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Emily A.  Morgan and Philip C. Benson.   

The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.