CONVICTED SEX OFFENDER PLEADS GUILTY TO POSSESSION OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY
Defendant Identified After Taking Laptop Computer to Local Shop for Repair
CLYDE DALE LOSHBAUGH, 57, of Seattle, Washington, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to possession of child pornography. LOSHBAUGH has prior convictions for child molestation. He faces a mandatory minimum ten years in prison and up to 20 years in prison when sentenced by U.S. District Judge Richard A. Jones on July 30, 2010.
According to the plea agreement, LOSHBAUGH had nearly 2,000 images of child pornography on his laptop computer when it was confiscated by Seattle Police at a computer repair business, Seattle Laptop, on Aurora Avenue North in north Seattle. LOSHBAUGH had taken his computer to the business in June 2009, claiming it was infected with malware. A technician noticed that LOSHBAUGH had pictures of nude young girls on the computer. The owner of the shop notified the Seattle Police Department. Officers confiscated the computer, and an investigation by Seattle Police and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) revealed more than 2,000 images of child pornography on the laptop and another computer taken from LOSHBAUGH’s home at the time of his arrest. LOSHBAUGH was arrested on February 11, 2010. LOSHBAUGH has previous convictions in 1994 in Spokane, Washington for second degree child molestation and communicating with a minor for immoral purposes.
“Every time abhorrent images like this are produced, transmitted, or viewed, one of our most precious innocents, a child, is victimized,” said Leigh Winchell, special agent in charge of ICE’s Office of Investigation in Seattle. “Addressing this sordid matter remains a high priority for the men and women of ICE and we will continue to seek out and bring to justice those who mistakenly believe the Internet shields them from detection.”
Under the terms of the plea agreement, LOSHBAUGH must register as a sex offender when released from prison. Judge Jones may impose a term of supervised release of five years to life. During supervised release, LOSHBAUGH agrees to undergo polygraph testing to ensure he is complying with the terms set by the court.
The case was investigated by the Seattle Police Department and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey Backhus.
For additional information please contact Emily Langlie, Public Affairs Officer for the United States Attorney’s Office, at (206) 553-4110 or Emily.Langlie@USDOJ.Gov.
