PROJECT SAFE CHILDHOOD

SPRINGFIELD MAN SENTENCED FOR TRANSPORTING CHILD PORNOGRAPHY OVER THE INTERNET

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – John F. Wood, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that a Springfield, Mo., man has been sentenced for attempting to transfer child pornography over the Internet.

 Travis Wayne Claxton, 35, of Springfield, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Richard E. Dorr on Wednesday, July 9, 2008, to 12 years and seven months in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Claxton to forfeit a computer and hard drive that were used to commit the violation.

 On Nov. 21, 2007, Claxton pleaded guilty to attempting to transport child pornography over the Internet between June 18 and July 18, 2006. Claxton admitted that he attempted to transport an image of child pornography to another individual while they were engaged in an online chat. The chat indicates that the subject either opened the image or was at least familiar with, although delivery of the image has not been confirmed with the person who was chatting with Claxton.

 Claxton also admitted that he possessed at least 10 images of child pornography, including images of prepubescent children and images depicting sadistic or violent content.

This case is being prosecuted by Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael S. Oliver. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Springfield, Mo., Police Department.

Project Safe Childhood