Erie Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Jail for Child Exploitation Offenses
| U.S. Attorney’s Office August 12, 2013 |
ERIE, PA—A resident of Erie, Pennsylvania has been sentenced in federal court to 30 years in prison and lifetime supervised release on his conviction of violating federal firearms laws and laws relating to the sexual exploitation of children, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.
Senior United States District Judge Maurice B. Cohill, Jr. imposed the sentence on Douglas E. Melter, 32.
According to information presented to the court, Melter attempted to induce a woman to procure an 11-year-old female for Melter to sexually abuse and photograph naked. Melter offered to pay $1,200 for one hour alone with the girl at his home. Melter also possessed computer images depicting minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct and possessed a firearm after having been convicted of multiple felonies.
Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Cohill noted Melter’s extensive criminal history and the very troubling aspects of Melter’s conduct in the case.
Assistant United States Attorney Christian A. Trabold prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.