Pennsylvania Man Sentenced to 90 Months for Distribution of Child Pornography

WASHINGTON – Stephen Kline, 40, of Pennsylvania, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 90 months in federal prison in connection with sending child sexual abuse materials to an undercover FBI task force officer, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.

Kline pleaded guilty Aug. 5, 2025, before Judge Royce C. Lamberth to one count of distribution of child pornography. In addition to the prison term, Judge Lamberth ordered Kline to serve 10 years of supervised release and to register as a sex offender.

According to court documents, on June 26, 2025, an FBI detective was monitoring a fetish website when a user using the screen name, “sk87p” initiated a private message chat. Later identified as Stephen Kline, the user moved the conversation to another messaging platform. Kline stated he had a sexual interest in children and indicated that he had access to a 15-year-old minor child. When asked what ages he preferred, Kline stated, “7-15, 9-10 being my fav.”

During the course of the conversation Kline sent the undercover detective materials that depicted adults sexually abusing young prepubescent children, including images of adults engaged in sadistic acts by tying children up to abuse them. Kline also detailed his access to and abuse of a real minor child.

Joining U.S. Attorney Pirro in the announcement was FBI Assistant Director in Charge Darren B. Cox of the Washington Field Office.

This case was investigated by the MPD-FBI Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. Valuable assistance was provided by the FBI’s Philadelphia Field Office, Allentown Resident Agency. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Janani Iyengar.

This case was brought as part of the Department of Justice's Project Safe Childhood initiative. In February 2006, the Attorney General created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorney's Offices, 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 identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

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