Brunswick County Man Sentenced to 60 Years in Prison for Child Pornography Charges

WILMINGTON, N.C. – A Brunswick County man was sentenced today to 720 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release for possessing and trading child pornography. The prison sentence imposed is the statutory maximum allowed for the crimes. Craig Connors Schenck, 39, of Saint James, North Carolina pled guilty on March 8, 2022 to Receipt of Child Pornography, Distribution of Child Pornography and Possession of Child Pornography.  Schenk was also ordered to pay $105,000 in restitution and was ordered to pay a special assessment of $15,000.

According to court documents and other information presented in court, Craig Connors Schenck, 39 was investigated by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) after Google notified the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children a user had uploaded images of child pornography.  The email address used by the individual contained Schenck’s first initial and last name.  The IP address associated with the uploaded illegal material was being leased to Schenck’s parents with whom Schenck lived. The cybertip was classified as a priority because it was believed Schenck may have been employed in a capacity which gave him access to children.

The SBI executed a search warrant at Schenck’s residence the same day the cybertip was received.  Schenck admitted to law enforcement that he was given a thumb drive in 2007 that had child pornography on it.  He admitted to being a part of online platforms where child pornography was traded.  Schenck also admitted that for some time he had been employed with various companies who cared for cognitively impaired children.  Schenck’s digital devices were seized and analyzed by the SBI.

During the forensic analysis of Schenck’s digital devices nearly 1,500 images and over 600 videos that depicted child sexual abuse material were discovered.  In addition to images, agents located a number of chats in various social media platforms, wherein Scheck discussed the sexual abuse of children, traded child pornography images and described graphic sexual fantasies.  Agents also found child pornography images of a child that, in chats with other individuals online, Schenck admitted to producing.  The child was identified as a child with whom Schenck had worked in the course of his employment. 

Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after the sentencing was concluded.  Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II presided over the sentencing.  North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Charity Wilson prosecuted the case.

Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:21-CR-00012-M.

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