Colorado man sentenced to more than 8 years in federal prison for possessing child pornography

DENVER — A Colorado man was sentenced this week by U.S. District Court Judge Wiley Y. Daniel to serve 97 months (eight years and one month) in federal prison for possessing child pornography.

Following his prison sentence, Kevin Dale Harlow, 55, of Thornton, Colorado, was also ordered to serve 10 years on supervised release and register as a sex offender.  Further, he was ordered to pay $22,000 in restitution to several victims (children who were pictured in the child pornography).  Harlow, a member of a Lutheran Church leading a 6th grade boys’ confirmation class, possessed 3,257 unique child pornography images and 316 unique child pornography videos.

This sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney John Walsh, District of Colorado, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Denver Special Agent in Charge David Thompson.  Harlow was indicted by a federal grand jury in Denver Nov. 4, 2014.  He pleaded guilty to the criminal charges before Judge Daniel on April 23; he was sentenced July 7.

According to the stipulated facts contained in the plea agreement, an HSI special agent, working in an official capacity conducting online undercover investigations, was able to access a specific peer-to-peer file-sharing network.  The special agent was able to obtain a list of files being shared, including 36 files with names indicative of child pornography.  The undercover special agent downloaded about 15 files depicting child pornography through the peer-to-peer file-sharing network.

During the investigation, it was determined that the files were being shared from a residence in Thornton, Colorado.  In March 2013, the same undercover agent was able to download an additional 26 files of child pornography that were being made available from the same residence.  While the investigation continued, an HSI special agent learned that a sergeant from the Johnstown (Colorado) Police Department had also initiated an investigation related to the specific address targeted by HSI.  The sergeant was also using a law enforcement computer to conduct online undercover activities.  The sergeant was able to download more than 80 image files and more than 15 video files, all consistent with child pornography.

Based on this information, a federal search warrant was obtained and executed at Harlow’s Thornton residence.  It was determined that Harlow was a member of a Lutheran Church and was a leader for the 6th grade boys’ confirmation class.  When the search warrant was executed, Harlow was in the process of downloading child pornography.  Numerous computers and digital media were seized during execution of the search warrant. The investigation also revealed that the search terms Harlow used included:  teens, preteens, girls, boys, and ages such as 7, 9, and 12.  Investigators learned he had a preference for images of children between 10 and 14 years old.

The forensic examination of the computers and digital media seized from Harlow reflected that child pornography was located on more than 10 of the seized devices. These devices contained 3,257 unique child pornography images and 316 unique child pornography videos.  The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) reported that 554 of the image files possessed by Harlow depict minor victims previously identified to law enforcement.  Some of the material portrayed sadistic or masochistic conduct or other depictions of violence.

“Children are victimized in the production of child pornography, and people who possess child pornography fuel that victimization,” said U.S. Attorney John Walsh.  “The tough sentence handed down by the court in this case is further supported by the fact that this defendant was working closely with children and young people at the same time he was engaged in the collection of child pornography.”

This case was investigated by HSI along with the Johnstown Police Department.

Harlow was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alecia Riewerts, the Project Safe Childhood Coordinator for the District of Colorado.

This investigation was conducted under HSI’s Operation Predator, an international initiative to protect children from sexual predators. Since the launch of Operation Predator in 2003, HSI has arrested more than 12,000 individuals for crimes against children, including the production and distribution of online child pornography, traveling overseas for sex with minors, and sex trafficking of children. In fiscal year 2014, more than 2,300 individuals were arrested by HSI special agents under this initiative and more than 1,000 victims identified or rescued.

HSI encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free Tip Line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or by completing its online tip form. Both are staffed around the clock by investigators. From outside the U.S. and Canada, callers should dial 802-872-6199. Hearing impaired users can call TTY 802-872-6196. Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, via its toll-free 24-hour hotline, 1-800-THE-LOST.

For additional information about wanted suspected child predators, download HSI’s Operation Predator smartphone app or visit the online suspect alerts page.

HSI is a founding member and current chair of the Virtual Global Taskforce, an international alliance of law enforcement agencies and private industry sector partners working together to prevent and deter online child sexual abuse.