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North East resident James Shipley, 48, has been sentenced to 50 years in prison for the production of child pornography, the Cecil County State's Attorney's Office announced.
In February, the Maryland State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce received nearly three dozen tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children reporting possible possession and distribution of child sex abuse material (CSAM) on a free file sharing website.
The investigation led to an IP address for the uploaded materials, and investigators were able to locate Shipley in North East. A review of the materials led investigators to believe that the images were newly created and depicted a child in the Cecil County residence, officials said.
During a search of Shipley's residence, they "identified the subject of the materials as a minor child living in the residence."
The child later disclosed that Shipley took the images of her and investigators were able to determine that he took the photos in November 2023, and January 2024.
Shipley pleaded guilty in August to four counts of sex abuse of a minor and two counts of production of child pornography.
"Child abuse, in it of itself, is abhorrent in any form; however, there is an added component of depravity when the abuse is documented and then widely distributed on an online platform," Cecil County State's Attorney James Dellmyer stated.
"It is my hope that this sentence sends a message to perpetrators that anyone who creates, traffics, or possesses this material will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."
In addition to his prison term, Shipley must register as a sex offender for the remainder of his life.
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