Yakima Businessman Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison for Production, Transportation, and Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material

Yakima, Washington – Acting United States Attorney Richard R. Barker announced that on February 18, 2025, Chief United States District Judge Stanley A. Bastian sentenced David Roger Franklin, age 68, of Yakima, Washington, to 30 years in federal prison for production, transportation, and possession of child sexual abuse material. Chief Judge Bastian also imposed 10 years of supervised release.

According to court documents and information presented at the sentencing hearing, on June 21, 2022, a computer technician working on Franklin’s laptop computer at Franklin’s office discovered folders containing images and videos of child sexual abuse material. FBI agents reviewed the images and determined some of the photos were taken with Franklin’s cell phone and depicted the sexual abuse of a young child with whom Franklin had contact. During a forensic interview with agents, the child related that Franklin told the victim the pictures he took of the child, and his sexual abuse of the child, would be their “little secret.”

In addition to the photos of the known victim, Agents located an additional 89 videos and 21 still images on Franklin’s computer of young children being sexually abused by adult males.

“I am so humbled by the courage of the victim in this case, who suffered such incredible harm, but nonetheless came forward and stood up to Mr. Franklin,” stated Acting United States Attorney Rich Barker. “In their victim impact statement, the victims put it like this: ‘I trusted [Mr Franklin] and he betrayed me.’ My team of devoted public servants and prosecutors will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that those who betray young children are held accountable for their actions.”     

“Possessing child sexual abuse material is disturbing enough, but producing it, as Mr. Franklin did, is another thing entirely.” said W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Seattle field office. “He committed these acts without concern for the potentially devastating effect on the child he victimized. I thank the investigators who work these difficult cases diligently and methodically every day to hold offenders accountable for this appalling conduct.”

This case was investigated by the FBI. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Michael D. Murphy and Letitia A. Sikes.

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