Karl Modderman, 47, of Tucson, was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison for viewing child pornography by U.S. District Judge Raner C. Collins, yesterday. Modderman pleaded guilty on March 13, 2012, to knowing access of child pornography. Modderman had been previously convicted of receipt of child pornography in 2003.
On Aug. 3, 2011, Modderman was indicted by a federal grand jury in a two-count indictment, charging him with knowing access of child pornography and possession of child pornography. According to the plea agreement, between July and November of 2010, Modderman used two laptop computers to access and view images of child pornography.
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 Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, 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.
Modderman’s prison term will be followed by lifetime supervised release, with sex offender conditions, including the condition that he register as a sex offender.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Tucson Police Department, Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.