Akron Man Charged With Child Pornography

Nicholas B. Bowers, 30, of Akron, was charged with receiving, distributing and possessing visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, transferring obscene material to a juvenile and enticement, said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.

The indictment charges that from on or about January 1, 2011, through on or about January 13, 2014, Bowers knowingly received and distributed in interstate and foreign commerce, by computer, numerous computer files, which files contained visual depictions of real minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. 

The indictment also charges that Bowers knowingly used a device connected to the Internet, to attempt to persuade, induce, entice and coerce a twelve (12) year-old girl to engage in illegal sexual activity with him. The indictment also charges that Bowers used a facility and means of interstate commerce, that is, a device connected to the Internet, to knowingly transfer obscene matter, that is, a video file containing  visual depictions of himself masturbating, to an individual who he knew had not attained the age of 16 years, that is, a 12-year-old girl. 

The indictment also charges that on January 13, 2014, Bowers possessed two computers, a USB storage device, a cellular phone and numerous DVDs, each that contained child pornography.

If convicted, the sentence in this case will be determined by the court after consideration of the Federal Sentencing Guidelines which depend upon a number of factors unique to each case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the unique characteristics of the violation.  In all cases the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael A. Sullivan.  The case was investigated by the Akron Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Springfield Township Police Department, and the Toronto Police Service.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.