SANTA ANA, California – LAWFUEL – Law News, Law Jobs Network – A resident of La Habra was sentenced today to 25 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to producing child pornography and admitting that he sexually abused his young daughter and distributed videos of the attacks on the Internet.
Jed Philip Larson Sr., 45, was sentenced by United States District Judge Cormac J. Carney. After completing his prison term, Larson will be on supervised release for the rest of his life.
Larson pleaded guilty on May 22 to one count of producing child pornography. Larson admitted that he sexually molested his daughter when she was between 4 and 7 years of age, recorded the attacks with a webcam and broadcast still images and videos of the attacks on the Internet.
Images of the attacks were first discovered by special agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Killeen, Texas while examining a computer seized from Wesley Whitcomb. The investigation revealed that Whitcomb met Larson in an Internet chat room where Larson was webcasting images of a molestation of his daughter. Agents recovered numerous image and movie files of Larson’s daughter on Whitcomb’s computer.
Independently, ICE agents in Indiana discovered a computer belonging to Craig Macpherson that contained thousands of still images and movie files of Larson’s daughter being sexually abused, molested and exploited. ICE agents recovered more than 11,000 images and movie files of Larson’s daughter from Macpherson’s computer.
ICE subsequently identified and located Larson. On September 8, 2005, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Larson’s residence, arrested Larson, and rescued Larson’s daughter.
Larson is also being prosecuted by the Orange County District Attorney’s Office for the sexual abuse of his daughter. He is scheduled to proceed to trial in Orange County Superior Court on January 26.
“This sentence is fully merited by defendant’s criminal actions, in which he took advantage of his position of power over his daughter to horribly abuse her,” said Acting United States Attorney George S. Cardona. “No sentence can make up for the harm this man has caused his own daughter, but the lengthy sentence imposed today will at least ensure that this defendant will never again sexually victimize his daughter or anyone else’s child.”
Robert Schoch, Special Agent in Charge of the ICE Office of Investigations in Los Angeles stated: “Today’s sentencing is gratifying for two reasons. First, it sends a clear message about the heinous nature of this defendant’s actions. But, perhaps more importantly, it reminds us that because of our joint law enforcement efforts, a little girl has been rescued from a horrific situation and given a second chance at childhood.”
Whitcomb is currently serving a 30-year prison sentence for his conviction on child pornography charges.
Macpherson is serving a prison term of 17½ years in federal prison.
The federal case is the product of an extensive investigation by ICE. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department and the Huntington Beach Police Department provided substantial assistance.
CONTACT: Assistant United States Attorney Richard Y. Lee
(213) 894-2692
Release No. 06-158
