Sex Offender Sentenced to Lengthy Term for Receipt of Child Pornography

Man with Prior Conviction for Child Molestation Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison

June 23, 2010 - ROBERT FRANCIS PIERCE, 41, of Kirkland, Washington, was sentenced Monday June 21, 2010, in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 15 years in prison and 15 years of supervised release for receipt of child pornography. PIERCE has prior convictions in Snohomish County for rape of a child in the first degree and child molestation in the first degree. U.S. District Judge Marsha J. Pechman imposed the sentence.

According to records filed in the case, in late May 2009, federal investigators using peer-to-peer file sharing software traced child pornography to an Internet address associated with PIERCE. In August 2009, PIERCE’s apartment was searched by law enforcement, and agents located two computers containing more than 600 images of child pornography. PIERCE admitted downloading the images using Peer to Peer software.

In June 2003, PIERCE was convicted in Snohomish County Superior Court of rape of a child in the first degree and child molestation in the first degree. PIERCE was sentenced to 131 months in prison, with all but six months suspended. That suspension will likely be revoked, and the Snohomish County Prosecuting Attorney has agreed to recommend that the state sentence be served concurrently with the federal sentence.

The case was investigated by the FBI and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael Scoville.