Jackson County Man Sentenced to 30 Years for Producing Child Pornography
Prosecutor Warns Parents About Child Predators

LEXINGTON, KY—The United States Attorney’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Kentucky State Police (KSP) jointly announced today that 30-year-old Robert Damon Bowling Jr., of Jackson County, Ky. was sentenced to 30 years in prison and lifetime supervision for producing child pornography.

Bowling pleaded guilty in September of 2008, and admitted that in May of 2007, he coerced a seven-year-old female to engage in sexually explicit conduct and took photos of the encounter. In addition, the defendant admitted that he downloaded hundreds of child pornography images onto his computer from the internet.

“We believe that this sentencing sends a strong message,” said Assistant United States Attorney Erin May, who represented the United States in this case.

“Photographing the sexual exploitation of a child can have a lasting impact on the victim and encourage a market for others to engage in this lewd behavior. As Mr. Bowling found out, it will also result in a lengthy prison sentence.”

May also offered some critical advice for parents to keep their children safe from exploitation.

“Parents should also take note of this sentence,” said May. “Child predators are victimizing children of all ages. We can’t emphasize enough that no child is immune to this. Therefore, it’s vital that parents talk to their children and know everything they can about the people who supervise their children. Often, it’s the people that parents trust the most that victimize children.”

The FBI and KSP investigated the case and are warning child predators about the consequences of their actions.

“Those involved in child exploitation, like everyone else, are using the remarkable reach of the Internet,” said Timothy Cox, special agent in charge of the FBI in Louisville. “But we have a message for child sex predators who think they can escape justice by hiding in Cyberspace. We will do everything in our power and use every tool at our disposal to keep our children safe whether they are around the block or around the world.”

Kentucky State Police Commissioner Rodney Brewer echoed the remarks from Cox.

“Child predators should know that we are pursing them in a variety of ways,” said Brewer. “Local and federal law enforcement entities are acting as a team, making it easier on us to catch the predator and harder for the predator to elude justice.”

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In February 2006, the Attorney General created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.