Former Attorney and Youth Baseball Coach Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Child Pornography Offenses

A family law attorney who previously practiced in Kent, Washington was sentenced today to 25 years in prison and lifetime supervised release for Production of Child Pornography/ Sexual Exploitation of Children, one count of Receipt of Material Constituting or Containing Child Pornography, and one count of Possession of Child Pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Jenny A. Durkan.  DAVID S. ENGLE, 50, of Maple Valley, Washington was arrested in November 2012.  ENGLE, who both volunteered in and ran a business involving youth baseball, has been incarcerated since his arrest.  At sentencing U.S. District Judge James L. Robart took issue with a defense claim that these were not violent attacks saying, ”Molestation is violence… Sure, he didn’t threaten to break an arm… but this is violence, let’s be very clear on that.”

“This is a heart-wrenching betrayal of trust of the victims and the community,” said U.S. Attorney Jenny A. Durkan.  “While nothing can undo this damage, the long sentence will protect the community and sends a strong message about the horrendous acts.  Our advocates are resolved to do everything possible to support the victims as they deal with the horrific abuse.”

According to records filed in the case, ENGLE came to the attention of law enforcement following the investigation of an international movie production company that operated a website offering DVDs and streaming videos for sale.  The materials depicted young boys in sexually explicit activity.  Between 2005 and 2011, ENGLE purchased 184 different items from the website.  The international movie production company was put out of business when agents seized its inventory and records.  The company and the owners of the company are being prosecuted for child exploitation offenses, including the production and distribution of child pornography.

After law enforcement executed a search warrant on ENGLE’s home and storage locker in November 2012, they discovered more than 500 videos of ENGLE sexually molesting a young boy under the age of 16.  Law enforcement later discovered additional evidence of ENGLE sexually molesting another young boy, also under the age of 16.  ENGLE is being separately prosecuted for those offenses by the King County Prosecutor’s Office.  Following forensic examination of a number of computers, DVDs, thumb drives, and floppy disks, investigators determined that ENGLE was in possession of tens of thousands of images of child pornography, and thousands of videos of child pornography.

In asking for a 30 year prison sentence, prosecutors noted that ENGLE betrayed the trust put in him by the community.  “To then learn that Defendant had been charged with producing child pornography and molesting children added additional layers of anguish that can never be ameliorated.  To the mothers of Minor Victim 1 and Minor Victim 2, to all of the parents who put their trust in Defendant, to all of the children who called him “Coach,” to all of those involved in youth baseball for the pure enjoyment of the sport, and to the larger community, Defendant’s criminal conduct is especially monstrous,” prosecutors wrote in their sentencing memo.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Marci Ellsworth.