Pennsylvania babysitter sentenced to 30 years for child sex abuse
HARRISBURG, Pa. – A Carlisle, Pennsylvania, man was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison Monday for sexually abusing toddler-aged victims he was babysitting. The abuse was found after an investigation led by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
Zachary Knight, 20, lived in the U.S. Army War College housing area with his family when HSI special agents arrested him May 9, 2014, after they found videos of his sexual abuse he made with the victims.
He pleaded guilty in April 2015 to charges of aggravated sexual abuse of a minor and production of child pornography. In addition to his prison term, he was also sentenced to 25 years of supervised release after his prison term.
"Today’s sentencing again demonstrates HSI’s determination to bring sexual predators out of the shadows and to justice,” said John Kelleghan, special agent in charge of HSI in Philadelphia. “We want the community to know that HSI and our law enforcement partners will work tirelessly to protect children and hold those, who think otherwise, accountable."
The U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division and the Upper Allen, Pennsylvania, Police Department assisted with the case that was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney James T. Clancy.
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 10,000 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.
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