From The Tribune staff reports
BIRMINGHAM — A federal judge yesterday sentenced a previously convicted sex offender for possession of child pornography, announced United States Attorney Prim F. Escalona and FBI Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp, Jr. “Possession of child pornography is an insidious crime that continues to sexually exploit a child every time an image is downloaded or shared,” U.S. Attorney Escalona said. “Every child deserves a safe childhood, and my office remains committed to vigorous prosecution of child exploitation in this district.” “Thrasher is a repeat child sex offender and deserves every day of this sentence,” Sharp said. “The FBI will continue to aggressively investigate and pursue those who would exploit our children. To report online child sexual exploitation, use the electronic Cyber Tip Line or call 1-800-843-5678. The Cyber Tip Line is operated by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in partnership with the FBI.” According to the plea agreement, in August 2019, Thrasher’s federal probation officer conducted a home visit and found five smartphone devices at Thrasher’s residence. Thrasher admitted he used three of the smartphones to download child pornography, and that he possessed child pornography on those devices. A forensic examination of the smartphones revealed multiple images and videos of children being abused and exploited. Thrasher was on federal supervision for receipt of child pornography at the time. Thrasher’s supervision was revoked in September 2019. The terms of Thrasher’s supervised release included a restriction from possessing a smartphone device. In 2008, Thrasher was convicted in the U.S. District Court Northern District of Alabama of receipt of child pornography. In 2009, Judge Karon O. Bowdre sentenced Thrasher to 97 months in prison. Thrasher was released in December 2016 on 10 years of supervised release. Thrasher has remained in the custody of law enforcement since his arrest in August 2019. The FBI investigated the case, along with the Northport Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys R. Leann White and John Hundscheid prosecuted the case.
|