HARTFORD, Conn. – A Connecticut man, arrested in 2019 over incidents involving a Burrillville boy, pleaded guilty this week to production of child pornography.
Christopher Michaelson, 38, of Guilford entered the plea Thursday, March 16 before U.S. District Judge Michael Shea in Hartford.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on January 9, 2019, the Guilford Police Department assisted Burrillville Police with the arrest of Michaelson at his residence in Guilford on Rhode Island state charges for child molestation, solicitation and enticement. During the arrest, officers seized Michaelson’s cellphone.
A court-authorized search of the seized phone later revealed hundreds of images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children, primarily boys between the ages of five and 15, and communications between Michaelson and minor victims whom he directed to send sexually explicit photographs of themselves to him.
The charge of production of child pornography carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 15 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years. Shea scheduled sentencing for Friday, June 2.
The Rhode Island state charges against Michaelson are still pending. Michaelson has been detained since his arrest.
This case has been investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office, the Guilford Police Department and the Burrillville Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephanie Levick and Nancy Gifford.
This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc.
To report cases of child exploitation, visit www.cybertipline.com.
