Newport Man Sentenced For Receiving Child Pornography

The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that John Kuhl, 42, of Newport, Vermont, was sentenced in United States District Court in Rutland, Vermont, on January 2, 2014, to serve 60-months imprisonment and a five (5) year term of supervised release following his conviction on one count of receipt of child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252(a)(2).   Chief Judge Christina Reiss also ordered Kuhl to pay a $100 special assessment. 

According to court records, Kuhl gave a cell phone to a minor female and instructed her to take photos of her genitalia and to send the photos to him, which the minor female did.  A forensic examination of Kuhl’s telephone revealed the existence of the photos the minor had taken and sent to him.  This activity came to law enforcement attention when it investigated allegations that Kuhl had inappropriately touched four other minors during a boat trip in Newport, Vermont.

The prosecution of Kuhl was being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Barbara Masterson.  Kuhl was represented by David McColgin of the Federal Defender’s Office. 

U.S. Attorney Coffin commended the efforts of the Newport Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Vermont Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force in the investigation and prosecution of Kuhl. 

U.S. Attorney Coffin 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.