NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) – A Portland, Conn., man has been sentenced to more than 27 years in prison, followed by a lifetime term of supervised release following his conviction on child pornography charges.
Craig Middlemass, 58, pleaded guilty in May to production of child pornography. Authorities discovered an extensive collection in his home that included numerous materials, from 8 mm movies to DVDs.
Middlemass, who was sentenced in U.S. District Court in New Haven, said in his plea that while living in California in 2003, he produced and distributed child pornography over the Internet using a digital camera and computer.
U.S. Attorney Kevin O’Connor said Friday the sentence is appropriate “as it will protect society from an individual who victimized boys for decades.”
Prosecutors said investigators found a child pornography collection containing at least 3,200 images, many produced by Middlemass. He also admitted that he distributed images of child pornography to other individuals over the Internet, O’Connor said.
Middlemass has sexually victimized minor boys for about 40 years and he induced boys as young as 8 to pose naked in photographs and engage in sexual acts, O’Connor said, citing documents filed with the court and statements in court.
Authorities have identified four children who are depicted in the photographs, and investigators have counted 40 other minors who have yet to be identified, he said. Authorities are trying to identify the youngsters.
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