JUNEAU – A Juneau man pleaded guilty on Monday, March 31 to producing child pornography.
According to court documents, William Steadman, 35, a registered sex offender, met a pre-pubescent boy in the community and enticed him to engage in sexually explicit conduct. Steadman documented the conduct and posted the content on the dark web.
Steadman first came to the attention of law enforcement when he distributed his newly produced child sexual abuse material (CSAM) online.
According to U.S. Department of Justice officials, Steadman attempted to obscure his identify from law enforcement by using the dark web, but tips from law enforcement, a cryptocurrency payment for additional CSAM, and analysis of his online statements led to his identification and arrest. A residential search resulted in the discovery of over 4,000 images and videos of CSAM on his devices.
Steadman pleaded guilty to one count of production of child pornography. He is scheduled to be sentenced on a later date and faces a mandatory‑minimum penalty of 25 years in prison and a maximum penalty of 50 years in prison.
A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Secret Service’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force investigated the case.
