Former Police Chief and Sheriff Candidate Sentenced to 60 Months in Federal Prison for Distribution of Child Pornography

Matthew D. Krueger, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on November 13, 2020, Alexander P. Bebris (age: 51) of Denmark, Wisconsin, was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison Senior United States District Judge William C. Griesbach for distribution of child pornography.

According to court records, in September of 2018, Facebook notified the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) that one of its users had sent images of child pornography via its messenger system to another Facebook user account. The Wisconsin Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Taskforce launched an investigation and determined that the images were sent from an IP address in use at Bebris’s residence in Neenah. On December 19, 2018, investigators executed a search warrant at Bebris’ residence, and an examination of Bebris’ computer revealed images of pornography involving children ranging in age from approximately one to fifteen years old. 

Bebris spent his career in law enforcement, most recently as Public Safety Chief in Oakwood, Ohio. In 2018, he ran unsuccessfully for the position of Outagamie County Sheriff.

In pronouncing sentence, Judge Griesbach noted the serious nature of the charge and the need for just punishment. Following his release from prison, Bebris will spend six years on supervised release.  He will also be required to register as a sexual offender.

This case was investigated by the Wisconsin Department of Justice’s ICAC Task Force, the Wisconsin Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office.  It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Benjamin W. Proctor and Daniel R. Humble.

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 U.S. Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (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.projectsafechildhood.gov. 

The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice.  Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.

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For Additional Information Contact: Public Information Officer Kenneth Gales

Kenneth.Gales@usdoj.gov

414-297-1700

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