PITTSBURGH—A resident of Clinton, Pennsylvania pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.
Sherwood Stevenson, 72, pleaded guilty to one count before Senior United States District Judge Gustave Diamond.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that in December 2009 Stevenson traveled from Western Pennsylvania to Florida to take a cruise. Several days after the ship embarked, while the ship was at sea, Stevenson fondled the genitals of a 6-year-old boy who was alone in a hot tub with him. Security cameras on the ship showed Stevenson sitting in the hot tub with the boy on his lap for approximately three minutes. Stevenson later admitted to an FBI agent that he took the cruise with the intention of having a sexual encounter with a young boy.
Judge Diamond scheduled sentencing for Nov. 22, 2011. The law provides for a total sentence of 30 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Pending sentencing, the court remanded Stevenson to the custody of the United States Marshals.
Assistant United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Stevenson.
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