New Richmond Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possessing Child Pornography

Madison, WI—Erik C. Peterson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Jason M. Pape, 37, of New Richmond, Wis., was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Barbara B. Crabb to 90 months in prison, without parole, for possessing child pornography. Following his release from prison, Pape will be on supervised release for the rest of his life. Pape pleaded guilty to the charge on March 6, 2009.

On May 15, 2008, police officers from the New Richmond Police Department and Polk County Sheriff’s Department executed search warrants at Pape’s home in New Richmond and a residence used by Pape in Osceola, Wis. At these residences, law enforcement officers found numerous images of child pornography on his computer hard drives.

This case was brought as part of 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 to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

The charges against Pape were the result of an investigation conducted by the New Richmond Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, St. Croix County Sheriff’s Department, and Polk County Sheriff's Office. The prosecution of the case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Jarosz.