Texas man sentenced to 17 years in federal prison for receiving child pornography

SAN ANTONIO — A former Los Angeles police officer and Special Forces medic was sentenced Wednesday to serve 17 years in federal prison for receiving child pornography, following an investigation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

U.S. District Judge Xavier Rodriguez sentenced David John Hammeren, 44, of Helotes, Texas, to 210 months in federal prison for receiving child pornography. In addition, Judge Rodriguez ordered Hammeren to serve a lifetime of supervised release and register as a sex offender.

On Feb. 17, 2011, HSI executed a federal search warrant at his residence located at the 14,000 block of Windy Creek Street in Helotes, Texas. Special agents seized four computers, one camera and other electronic equipment. A forensic analysis of the computers revealed more than 1,400 images and several hundred videos of child pornography. Hammeren turned himself in to HSI on June 21 without incident.

After sentencing, Judge Rodriguez ordered Hammeren be immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

As part of Operation Predator, HSI encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free hotline at 1-866-DHS-2ICE or its online tip form. Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, at 1-800-843-5678 or http://www.cybertipline.com.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracy Thompson, Western District of Texas, is prosecuting this case.