Man gets 40-month sentence in child porn case
Ronald Schaeffer had more than 31,000 images on his two home computers
An archivist for Bishop Museum was ordered to serve 40 months in federal prison for possessing more than 31,000 images of child pornography and 400 movies on his home computers depicting children being sexually exploited.
Ronald Schaeffer, 57, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court last year to one count of possessing child pornography. He apologized yesterday to the court for his conduct, attributing it to an "overabundance of free time, idle curiosity and a dearth of good judgment."
But U.S. District Judge David Ezra said he was concerned that Schaeffer went from collecting still images of child pornography to movies of children being sexually exploited.
"Make no mistake about this, there were victims in this case," Ezra said.
By downloading the images and movies, Schaeffer helped feed a "very sick, despicable industry."
"Without people like him engaged in this activity, there would be no reason for people to supply," Ezra said.
Assistant federal defender Shanlyn Park had argued that while Schaeffer understands the seriousness of his conduct and the "horrific nature of the crime itself," there was no evidence that he was involved in producing pornographic materials or molested any child.
Schaeffer, a former member of the Peace Corps and former nurse, has no significant criminal record and has a history of stable employment and involvement in community health outreach programs, she said.
From the beginning, Schaeffer accepted responsibility, did not minimize his conduct and has learned from this experience, Park said. His family and friends continue to support him, describing him as honest, dependable and displaying no improper or offensive conduct, she said, citing letters written on his behalf.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Larry Tong said there was nothing extraordinary about Schaeffer's situation that would warrant a sentence less than the advisory sentencing guidelines of 37 to 46 months' imprisonment. What is extraordinary in the case, he said, is the number of images Schaeffer amassed on his two computers.
"This defendant, for whatever reason, knowingly supported an industry that creates horrific crimes," Tong said.
Schaeffer must surrender to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons to begin serving his sentence on March 6. Upon his release, he will be placed on three years of supervised release.