A man from Kenduskeag, Maine, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Bangor for producing and possessing child pornography. Justin Leonard, 24, received a sentence of 27 years in prison and 10 years of supervised release. He must also pay $20,000 each to two minor victims.
According to court documents, the investigation began in February 2024 after the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children provided a CyberTip. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) executed a search warrant at Leonard’s home. During the search, Leonard gave investigators access to a hidden folder on his phone that contained sexually explicit images and videos of two very young children. Leonard admitted to creating this material. The parents confirmed their children were depicted.
Further examination of Leonard’s phone revealed Facebook messages where he discussed an interest in children and attempts to acquire them. Investigators also found internet searches about sedative drugs such as Rohypnol.
At sentencing, U.S. District Judge Stacy D. Neumann said Leonard’s actions represented “the most heinous offense than can be committed,” adding: “not only did [Leonard] commit the act, [he] documented it.”
The case was investigated by HSI and the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit.
Reports of child sexual abuse material remain high nationwide; in 2023, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children received 36 million reports involving such materials. More information on reporting or seeking help is available at https://report.cybertip.org or by calling 1-800-843-5678.
This prosecution falls under Project Safe Childhood, an initiative started by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to address child sexual exploitation online through collaboration among federal, state, and local agencies. More details are available at https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psc.