PITTSBURGH—A resident of New Castle, Pa., pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of production of material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.

Donald A. Miller, 43, of Laurel Boulevard, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon.

In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that, on Dec. 22, 2013, Miller employed, used, and coerced an 8-year-old victim to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing videos depicting her sexual exploitation. The child victim was identified and Miller arrested after the sexual videos were discovered on a used Samsung Galaxy Tablet that Miller sold to a New Castle resident at a flea market in Ohio the day before Christmas 2013. The resident immediately notified the New Castle Police Department when she happened upon the videos depicting Miller and the child stored in the Galaxy’s memory. The witness was able to identify Miller as the individual who sold her the electronic device.

Judge Bissoon scheduled sentencing for Jan. 28, 2015, at 10 a.m. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of life in prison, a fine of $500,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

The defendant remains in custody pending sentencing.

Assistant United States Attorney Carolyn J. Bloch is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the New Castle Police Department conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Miller.