Bristol Man Sentenced for Receipt of Child Pornography

The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that Cody Clark, 27, of Bristol, Vermont, was sentenced on October 18, 2018, in United States District Court in Burlington, Vermont, to serve 120 months in prison after his guilty plea to one count of receipt of child pornography.  U.S. District Judge Christina Reiss also ordered Clark to serve a thirty (30) year term of supervised release, and to pay a $100 special assessment. 

According to court records and proceedings, in the summer of 2017, Google transmitted a “Cybertip” to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) that a user, later identified as Clark, had uploaded images of child pornography to Clark’s Google account.  NCMEC forwarded the tip to the Vermont Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (the ICAC).  The ICAC investigated the tip and obtained a warrant to search Clark’s residence in Bristol, Vermont.  On September 2, 2017, law enforcement executed the search warrant and seized several computers and other devices from Clark.  Officers also discovered a minor child in his bed.  During a statement made to law enforcement, Clark admitted that he produced and possessed images of child pornography, that he knew he had a problem and needed help, and that he had inappropriately touched young boys in his care, though he claimed that such touches were non-sexual.  A forensic examination of his devices confirmed that Clark had produced images of child pornography, and possessed images that he had downloaded from the Internet.

United States Attorney Christina E. Nolan commended the efforts of the Vermont Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and Homeland Security Investigations in the investigation and prosecution of Clark.  She added: 

“Let this case serve as a reminder that those who sexually exploit children will be targets for federal prosecution, and a top priority for federal investigators.  Society should be measured by how it protects its most innocent and vulnerable members, and the Vermont law enforcement community will bear this in mind as we relentlessly pursue those who harm children and advocate for serious sentences.  As Judge Reiss said in imposing sentence, this defendant’s conduct was ‘unforgiveable and a violation of trust.’”   

Assistant U.S. Attorney Barbara A. Masterson handled the prosecution of Clark.  Clark was represented by Assistant Federal Public Defender Elizabeth Quinn.  

U.S. Attorney Nolan noted that this prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice's Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorney's Offices, 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 identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit  www.projectsafechildhood.gov.