California Man Pleads Guilty to Producing Child Pornography

A Yuba City, California, man pleaded guilty today to producing child pornography, announced Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner of the Eastern District of California, Special Agent in Charge Ryan Spradlin of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) San Francisco Field Division and Chief of Police Robert D. Landon of the Yuba City, California, Police Department.

Nathan Penner, 25, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley of the Eastern District of California to one count of production of child pornography.  The sentencing hearing is set for Jan. 21, 2016.

In connection with his plea, Penner admitted that he produced sexually explicit photos and videos of a five-year-old girl in September and October of 2012.  Penner further acknowledged that he had downloaded child pornography.  Subsequent forensic analysis of Penner’s computer and digital media revealed both the child pornography that he produced and hundreds of other child pornography files.

This case is being investigated by HSI and the Yuba City Police Department.  This case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Reginald E. Jones of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Josh F. Sigal of the Eastern District of California.  CEOS’ High Technology Investigative Unit assisted with computer forensic analysis for the case.