JOHNSTOWN MAN SENTENCED TO PROBATION WITH HOME CONFINEMENT FOR POSSESSING CHILD PORNOGRAPHY.

JOHNSTOWN, Pa -- The following information was released by the United States Attorney's Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania:

A resident of Johnstown, Pa., has been sentenced in federal court to five years probation, the first 12 months of which must be served by conditions of home confinement, required to register as a sex offender, and ordered to perform 100 hours of community service on his conviction of possessing child pornography, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.

United States District Judge Kim R. Gibson imposed the sentence on Matthew C. Ehredt, 23.

According to information presented to the court, on Feb. 25, 2008, Ehredt knowingly possessed movies in computer files which were produced using minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. The computer files were shipped or transported in interstate or foreign commerce.

Assistant United States Attorney John J. Valkovci, Jr., prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

U.S. Attorney Hickton commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation/Laurel Highlands Resident Agency, the Pa. State Police/Area III Computer Crimes Task Force, and the Cambria County District Attorney's Office for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Ehredt.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. Launched in February 2006, Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

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