Delaware Man Indicted for Child Pornography Offenses and Planning to Meet 14-Year-Old for Sex

A Delaware man was indicted today on charges related to his plan to meet a 14-year-old girl for sex and additional charges related to the production and distribution of child pornography, announced Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Charles M. Oberly III of the District of Delaware.

Daniel Arthur Hill, 28, of Dover, Delaware, was indicted in U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware on three counts of production of child pornography, one count of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor, three counts of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.

On Dec. 16, 2015, Hill was arrested on Delaware state charges for solicitation of a minor and other related offenses.  Hill allegedly engaged online with an individual that he believed to be a 14-year-old girl, then planned to meet this minor to engage in sexual activity.   

According to the allegations contained in the indictment, Hill possessed multiple child pornography images, including images that Hill had distributed within an online chat group.  Additionally, the indictment alleges that Hill had produced images of child pornography and distributed these images over the internet to other individuals. 

An indictment is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. 

The Delaware State Police Department and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case in cooperation with the Delaware Attorney General’s Office.  This case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Herbrina D. Sanders of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Graham L. Robinson of the District of Delaware.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice.  Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.