Westfield Child Predator Sentenced to 38 Years in Federal Prison for Seeking Sex with a 14-Year-Old and Trafficking in Child Sex Abuse Materials
Westfield Child Predator Sentenced to 38 Years in Federal Prison ... Department of Justice
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Man Sentenced to 38 Years in Prison for Child Exploitation
INDIANAPOLIS- Erik Hanson, 31, of Westfield, Indiana, has been sentenced to 38 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to sexual exploitation of a child, conspiracy to commit sexual exploitation of a child, and transportation of child sexual abuse material.
Undercover Investigation Reveals Disturbing Online Activity
According to court documents, after an online undercover investigation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation alerted detectives with the Westfield Police Department to evidence that Erik Hanson was using the Kik communications application to solicit sex with a 14-year-old girl. In fact, an undercover FBI Special Agent was communicating with Hanson posing as the child and the child’s father. In the conversations, Hanson stated that 14-year-old girls were his “favorite age” for sex, and that it was not a fantasy, but something he intended to act on. Hanson asked the ‘girl” for sexually explicit photos, sent her images of his penis, and attempted to meet with her for sex at a hotel in Tennessee. Hanson asked how soon he could meet with the 14-year-old girl because he wanted her to be “as young as possible.”
Discovery of Disturbing Evidence
Investigators obtained a warrant to search Hanson’s Kik account and located 91 photos and videos of child sexual abuse material including the sexual abuse of infants, child bondage, and child bestiality.
On April 22, 2022, Hanson’s Westfield home was searched by HCMCETF and Homeland Security agents, who located multiple electronic iPhones and an iPad Hanson admitted contained child sexual abuse material. During an interview with agents, Hanson admitted to owning two Kik accounts for the purpose of viewing child sexual abuse material, and that he belonged to many online groups that traded these images. Over a period of three months, Hanson used CashApp multiple times to pay another individual a total of $75 to produce child sexual abuse material involving Minor Victim 1, who Hanson believed was the producer’s 11-year-old daughter. Hanson directed the other user to engage in specific sex acts with the child, and distributed some of this material to another individual.
Emphasis on Sustainable Development Goals
- Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being – Protecting children from sexual exploitation and abuse is crucial for their overall well-being and mental health.
- Goal 5: Gender Equality – Combating child exploitation helps create a safer environment for girls and promotes gender equality.
- Goal 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions – Holding child predators accountable and ensuring justice for victims contributes to building strong institutions and maintaining peace in society.
Quotes from Officials
“Child predators wrongly believe that the internet will protect them. This defendant’s actions demonstrate that he is a dangerous pedophile, who must be kept away from our children in person and online,” said U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Zachary A. Myers. “The sentence imposed here ensures that the defendant will not be in a position to exploit or abuse any more children for many years. I commend the work of the dedicated investigators at the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, the Hamilton County Metropolitan Child Exploitation Task Force, and the Westfield Police Department, to hold this predator accountable and remove him from our community.”
“Today’s sentencing of Hanson sends an important message to all would-be predators: we will not allow this type of crime against children to go unpunished,” said HSI Chicago Special Agent in Charge Sean Fitzgerald. “HSI, along with our law enforcement partners, is dedicated to the eradication of sexual exploitation and will continue to pursue those who seek gratification from the abuse and pain of the most vulnerable members of society, our children.”
Collaborative Investigation and Sentencing
FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, Hamilton County Metropolitan Child Exploitation Task Force, and the Westfield Police Department investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge, Chief Tanya Walton Pratt. Judge Pratt also ordered that Hanson be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for life following his release from federal prison. Hanson must also pay $30,000 in restitution to his victims.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Kyle Sawa, who prosecuted this case.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the 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.
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SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 5: Gender Equality
- SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- SDG 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation.
- SDG 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
- Number of cases related to sexual exploitation of children and child pornography.
- Number of arrests and convictions related to child sexual exploitation.
- Number of victims identified and provided with support services.
Explanation:
The article discusses a case involving the sexual exploitation of a child and the possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material. These actions directly relate to SDG 5, which aims to achieve gender equality and eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls, including sexual exploitation. The article also highlights the involvement of law enforcement agencies in investigating and prosecuting the perpetrator, which aligns with SDG 16, which focuses on peace, justice, and strong institutions.
Based on the content of the article, specific targets under these SDGs can be identified. SDG 5.2 aims to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls, including trafficking and sexual exploitation. The actions described in the article, such as soliciting sex with a minor, possession of child sexual abuse material, and attempting to meet a minor for sex, directly relate to this target.
SDG 16.2 focuses on ending abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children. The article highlights the investigation and prosecution of the perpetrator for child sexual exploitation, which aligns with this target.
The article does not explicitly mention indicators for measuring progress towards these targets. However, indicators that can be used to measure progress include the number of cases related to sexual exploitation of children and child pornography, the number of arrests and convictions related to child sexual exploitation, and the number of victims identified and provided with support services.
4. Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 5: Gender Equality | 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation. | – Number of cases related to sexual exploitation of children and child pornography. – Number of arrests and convictions related to child sexual exploitation. – Number of victims identified and provided with support services. |
| SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions | 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children. | – Number of cases related to sexual exploitation of children and child pornography. – Number of arrests and convictions related to child sexual exploitation. – Number of victims identified and provided with support services. |
Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.
Source: justice.gov
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