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CONVICTED SEX OFFENDER SENTENCED TO 168 MONTHS IN PRISON FOR POSSESSION OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY
Defendant Identified After Taking Laptop Computer to Local Shop for Repair

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 30, 2010

CLYDE DALE LOSHBAUGH, 57, of Seattle, Washington, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 14 years (168 months) in prison and lifetime supervised release for possession of child pornography. LOSHBAUGH has prior convictions for child molestation. At sentencing U.S. District Judge Richard A. Jones said LOSHBAUGH deserved a lengthy sentence to "protect the public from your continued criminal conduct." "This was pure child pornography with depictions of children being abused in the most horrific ways imagined," Jones said. "When they know someone has looked at those images, they live the nightmare over and over and over again."

LOSHBAUGH pleaded guilty April 30, 2010, admitting he 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 for child sex abuse. In 1983, in Sonoma County, California, he was sentenced to six years in prison for lewd and lascivious acts on a child under 14-years-old. In 1994 in Spokane, Washington, he was convicted of second degree child molestation and communicating with a minor for immoral purposes.

“This prison sentence should put all types of child predators on notice that serious consequences await those who perpetrate crimes against children,” said Leigh Winchell, Special Agent in Charge of ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Seattle. “As a convicted criminal, the defendant’s recurrent sexual exploitation of children underscores his blatant disregard for the very laws that are on the books to protect young people and preserve their dignity. HSI’s investigators will continue to aggressively investigate, identify and pursue this type of criminal to ensure that justice is served.”

Under the terms of the plea agreement, LOSHBAUGH must register as a sex offender when released from prison. During supervised release, LOSHBAUGH agrees to undergo polygraph testing to ensure he is complying with the terms set by the court.

In asking for a lengthy prison term, Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey Backhus said LOSBAUGH has proven himself a danger to children, and his use of child pornography further damages victims. “Clearly, exploited children face considerable struggles and fears for much of their lives; they face challenges that should never be visited upon any child. Over and above the actual physical abuse or sexualization perpetrated against them, the victims know that the images of sexualization or molestation can never be retracted from cyber-space and will be circulated indefinitely. By viewing and distributing images and videos of these victims, Defendant contributes to their victimization,” Mr. Backhus wrote in his sentencing memo.

The case was investigated by the Seattle Police Department and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The case was 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.

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