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Brien Pennell, 31, who was previously convicted of having sexual contact with a teenage girl, pleaded guilty in Hartford federal court to one count of receipt of child pornography following his arrest on March 20, 2018.
When he is sentenced next year, Pennell faces a mandatory minimum term of 15 years and a maximum term of 40 years in prison. U.S. Attorney John Durham noted that “the minimum and maximum penalties, in this case, are enhanced based on Pennell’s criminal history.”
In February 2008, Pennell was convicted in state court of sexual assault and possession of child pornography. He served 30 months in prison and was sentenced to 15 years probation following the conviction.
The conditions of Pennell’s release from prison as a child sex offender prevents him from having any children’s clothing, toys or games; a camera, camera phone or any recording device; or internet service.
On Feb. 2 last year, an investigation determined that an IP address registered to Pennell was being used to share images and videos of child pornography through a Kik application.
Probation officers in Connecticut proceeded to conduct a search of Pennell’s home and vehicle, seizing several electronic media, including a smartphone and a tablet, both of which were located in a hidden compartment under the steering wheel of Pennell’s vehicle.
According to Durham, “subsequent analysis of the seized electronic devices, Pennell’s Kik account and a Dropbox account he maintained, revealed 148 videos and 40 images of child pornography, some of which depict children younger than 12 engaging in sexually explicit conduct.”
Pennell has been detained since his federal arrest. Durham said the case is being investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, with the assistance of Connecticut’s Office of Adult Probation and the Stamford Police Department.
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