Date: 04-12-2016

Case Style: United States of America v. Seth Christian Ganahl

Case Number: 4:15-cr-00031-KGB

Judge: Kristine G. Baker

Court: United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas, Pulaski County

Plaintiff's Attorney: Kristin Bryant

Defendant's Attorney: Jonathan Lane

Description: Little Rock, AR - Maumelle Man Sentenced To 20 Years Imprisonment For Production Of Child Pornography

Seth Christian Ganahl, age 42, of Maumelle, Arkansas, was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment and a lifetime of supervised release for production of child pornography.

An indictment handed down by a Grand Jury in the Eastern District of Arkansas on February 4, 2015, charged Ganahl with two counts of attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity, one count of enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity, one count of transportation of a minor with the intent to engage in sexual activity, one count of attempted production of child pornography, and two counts of production of child pornography.

The charges in the indictment were based on an investigation that began in August 2014, when a minor disclosed to her mother and the Maumelle Police Department that Ganahl had previously asked her to engage in illicit sexual activity on multiple occasions. After the minor’s disclosure, a second minor disclosed that Ganahl had also asked her to engage in illicit sexual activity.

Ganahl was arrested by the Maumelle Police Department on August 27, 2014. Electronic devices seized and searched pursuant to federal search warrants revealed that Ganahl was using the name Christian Canon, and his business, Little Rock Models, to entice minors to send him photographs and videos of the minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Ganahl would then pay the minors for the photographs and videos.

On April 12, 2016, Ganahl entered a plea to one count of production of child pornography. Ganahl admitted to meeting minors on various social networking websites and communicating with them via Skype. Ganahl admitted that he asked a minor, via Skype, to send him a nude photograph with his name and the date on it to prove she was not law enforcement. After sending the photograph, the minor later asks Ganahl "do I have to be over a certain age to do this? I will be 16 this month if that is alright." Ganahl responded, "your age is perfect." Ganahl then asked the minor for multiple photographs and videos of her engaging in sexually explicit conduct and paid her at least $900 for the images. Ganahl also admitted to doing a sexually explicit photo shoot at his home with the minor where he made her wear a dog collar and chain.

"The conduct by the defendant in this case continues to show the dangers of the internet and the ability of adults to easily manipulate and prey on children through the internet," Thyer said. "My office hopes that a sentence of 20 years imprisonment plus lifetime supervision sends the message that the internet is not anonymous and we will continue to locate these perpetrators who hide behind screen names and false personas to take advantage of the most vulnerable among us."

Pursuant to a Rule 11(c)(1)(C) plea agreement, the United States and Ganahl agreed to the sentence of 20 years imprisonment. United States District Judge Kristine G. Baker also sentenced Ganahl to a lifetime of supervised release following imprisonment.

"Individuals who produce child pornography are directly responsible for what is, in plain language, the rape of children. Production of child pornography steals the innocence of children and destroys lives," Parmer said. "Criminals who prey on children will continue to be one of the agency’s highest priorities in order to protect the innocent from these terrible crimes."

"This case began with a call to the Arkansas State Police Child Abuse Hotline by the Maumelle Police Department," Bryant said. "It illustrates the importance of a teamwork approach, beginning with the public, and working together with multiple law enforcement agencies to identify and arrest those individuals who prey on innocent children," Bryant said.

The investigation was conducted by the Little Rock Office of Homeland Security Investigations, the Arkansas State Police Crimes Against Children Division, and the Maumelle Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kristin Bryant.

Outcome: Defendant was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

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