Troy man faces up to 30 years for producing porn with girls aged 15 and 5

Credit: SHELBY COUNTY JAIL

Credit: SHELBY COUNTY JAIL

A Troy man faces up to 30 years in prison for producing child pornography with two minors, according to federal court documents.

Shawn Whitaker, 32, filmed himself having sex with a 15-year-old, took pictures of that girl while she was undressing and also took pornographic photos of a 5-year-old in late 2016, according to court documents filed in Dayton’s U.S. District Court.

Whitaker was to be sentenced on Friday, but his attorney has sought to have that hearing pushed back for a psychological evaluation. Defense attorney Andrew Pratt declined comment.

RELATED: Troy man arraigned for unlawful sexual conduct with a minor

A plea agreement with prosecutors in which he pleaded guilty to production of child pornography caps Whitaker’s prison time at 360 months or 30 years. The statutory sentences for each count are 15-30 years plus restitution, a possible fine and mandatory sex offender registration.

The criminal complaint and a sentencing memorandum written by Whitaker’s attorney remain sealed. Court records do not indicate that federal prosecutors have filed a sentencing memo.

Whitaker had a sexual relationship with the 15-year-old between Nov. 11, 2016, and March 6, 2017, according to a bill of information filed July 25, 2017.

MORE: Read other stories from Mark Gokavi

Further investigation of electronic materials seized from Whitaker revealed he took 21 photos, including some close-up nude photos, of a 5-year-old girl on Oct. 5, 2016.

Both fit what prosecutors wrote was coercing the girls “to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct, which visual depiction was produced using materials that had been mailed, shipped and transported in interstate and foreign commerce.”

The items seized from Whitaker include five computers, two iPhones and an external hard drive, which contained the child pornography he produced, according to court documents.

SOCIAL MEDIA: Follow Mark Gokavi on Twitter or Facebook

The bill of information also indicated that, during the execution of a search warrant, more than 70 other images and videos of child pornography were found on his external hard drive and laptops.

Whitaker has been incarcerated since March 29, 2017. He is currently being housed in the Shelby County Jail. He was arrested by Troy police, who were assisted by an FBI task force.

Whitaker originally was arraigned in Miami County Municipal Court before the case was moved to federal court.

DOWNLOAD OUR FREE MOBILE APP

About the Author