A Kenduskeag resident, Justin Leonard, 24, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Bangor to two counts of producing child pornography and one count of possessing child pornography.
Court records indicate that in February 2024, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) executed a search warrant at Leonard’s home after receiving a CyberTip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. During the search, Leonard provided investigators with access to a hidden folder on his phone containing sexually explicit images and videos involving two young children. Leonard admitted to creating these materials. The parents of the children confirmed his statements and identified their children in the content.
A forensic review of Leonard’s phone revealed Facebook chats where he discussed an interest in children and expressed a desire to acquire them. Investigators also found internet searches related to Rohypnol, including queries about administering sedatives to young individuals.
Leonard faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and up to 30 years in prison for each production count, as well as up to 20 years for possession. Each charge carries potential fines of $250,000 and up to lifetime supervised release. Sentencing will follow completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office, with final sentencing determined by a federal district court judge based on statutory factors and sentencing guidelines.
The case was investigated by HSI and the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit.
According to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, there were 36 million reports related to child sexual abuse materials in 2023. The organization accepts reports through its website at https://report.cybertip.org or by phone at 1-800-843-5678.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation online by coordinating federal, state, and local resources. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psc.
