Yankton Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Possession of Child Pornography

United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier sentenced a Yankton, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of Child Pornography.

Richard Leon Engbretson, age 36, was sentenced on July 30, 2018, to 10 years in federal prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release, ordered to pay $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund, and forfeit his computer and cell phone.

Engbretson was indicted for possession of child pornography by a federal grand jury on August 8, 2017.  He pled guilty on May 10, 2018.

On February 4, 2017, Yankton Police responded to a 911 call from the residence of Richard Engbretson.  In the call, Engbretson explained that he cut his own wrists because he was depressed and lonely.  He also stated that he was a sex offender and had looked at child pornography.  When officers arrived, Engbretson opened the door holding his left wrist in a towel.  A forensic examination led to the discovery of child pornography on Engbretson's computer and cell phone. 

This case was investigated by the Yankton Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeff Clapper.

Engbretson was returned to state custody to complete a sentence for a 2015 conviction for possessing child pornography.