Madison Man Sentenced to 20 Years for Producing Child Pornography

MADISON, WIS. - Scott C. Blader, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Jeremy Schenck, 25, Madison, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 20 years in federal prison, to be followed by 25 years of supervised release, for producing child pornography.   Schenck pleaded guilty to this charge on February 5, 2020.

The investigation began in December 2018, when a social worker with Dane County Human Services contacted the Madison Police Department after learning of an allegation of sexual abuse against Schenck.  The law enforcement investigation led to the issuance of a search warrant for Schenck’s apartment in February 2019.  A search of computers seized from Schenck’s apartment revealed images of child pornography.  Schenck was initially charged with possession of child pornography in Dane County on February 21, 2019.  After further investigation revealed that Schenck had taken sexually explicit pictures of a toddler, he was indicted on charges of production of child pornography in federal court. 

At sentencing, Judge Peterson stated that the sentence was appropriate due to the vulnerability of the minor victim, because Schenck distributed the image of the minor victim, and because Schenck committed a hands-on offense against the child.  Judge Peterson found that Schenck had demonstrated that he was a threat to all vulnerable victims and the community at large, and stated that he imposed this sentence because he was very keenly concerned with protecting the community from Schenck.

The charge against Schenck was the result of an investigation conducted by the Madison Police Department and the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation.  The prosecution of the case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Pfluger.