Child Predator Sentenced to 15 Years for Producing, Sharing Child Pornography

AUSTIN, Texas – A Florence, Texas man was sentenced Friday to 15 years in federal prison followed by 15 years of supervised release for the sexual exploitation of a child and production of child pornography.

According to court documents, Joseph Leslie Reichard, 23, used his cell phone to produce three images of child sexual abuse material depicting a minor between the ages of one and three years old.  Reichard sent the images via a messaging app to a person in Pennsylvania.  He pleaded guilty in October 2022 and has remained in federal custody since his arrest in March 2022.  

“This defendant used his cell phone to photograph and distribute despicable acts of sexual abuse against defenseless children,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas. “Limiting the availability of child sexual abuse begins with cracking down directly on offenders like Reichard, who can expect to face the harshest penalties under federal law.”

“The FBI continues its steadfast commitment to rescue children from those who commit these abhorrent crimes,” said Special Agent in Charge Oliver E. Rich Jr. of the FBI San Antonio Division. “Today’s sentencing is the result of the FBI and our task force partners’ relentless effort to hold child predators accountable for their reprehensible acts.”

The FBI San Antonio Division investigated the case with the help of the FBI Pittsburgh Division.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Devlin prosecuted the case.

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 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, 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.justice.gov/psc.

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