Elyria man gets more than 15 years in federal prison for having child sexual abuse images and videos

A federal judge has sentenced an Elyria man to more than 15 years in prison for receiving, possessing and distributing illegal pornographic materials involving children. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Ohio said U.S. District Judge Pamela Barker sentenced Christopher Jackson, 27, to 186 months — or 15 1/2 years — in prison. Financial restitution will be determined at a hearing in September, according to court records. Jackson pleaded guilty in March to charges of receipt and distribution of visual depictions of real minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, and possession of child pornography or child sexual abuse materials, also known as CSAM. Jackson also was ordered to serve 15 years on supervised release upon release from prison. FBI agents and the Elyria Police Department investigating suspected CSAM-related activity on social media learned that Jackson was downloading illegal images. Following his arrest, a forensic analysis of his electronic devices and online accounts revealed approximately 955 illegal images and 371 illegal videos. Jackson had been possessing and viewing similar images for more than 17 years, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. A photo of Jackson was not immediately available. Federal privacy laws generally allow federal inmates photos to remain hidden from the public. Portions of court records dealing with Jackson's sentencing contained personal medical and mental health information were not available for public viewing on the federal court's website. Contact Dave O'Brien at (440) 329-7129 or dobrien@chroniclet.com