News Releases

Indiana child pornography producer sentenced to 235 years in prison

INDIANAPOLIS - A local man was sentenced to 235 years in prison on Friday following his guilty plea to producing child pornography with seven young girls. This case resulted from an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Kokomo Police Department, and the Indiana State Police.

David Metzger, 54, of Kokomo, Ind., was sentenced May 14 in the Southern District of Indiana to 235 years, or 2,820 months, in federal prison for producing and possessing child pornography.

On Oct. 28, 2009, Kokomo Police Department executed a state search warrant at Metzger's residence after several girls alleged Metzger had photographed them nude and some alleged he had sexual contact with them. Inside Metzger's home, authorities found a computer with four hard drives, another computer with five hard drives, a desktop computer, and a laptop computer, as well as numerous pieces of computer media. Seven minor female victims, all younger than 12 years old, were depicted in numerous videos and pictures located on Metzger's computer collection.

Metzger had networked and encrypted his computer system. The videos showed the seven victims in various nude dancing segments. Metzger's voice is heard promising to pay them $15 to make the video. Metzger also provided the victims with adult sex toys. Metzger pleaded guilty to 15 counts of producing child pornography and one count of possessing child pornography involving the victims and other Internet child pornography he had collected over several years.

Metzger's computers will be forfeited. Metzger has remained in custody since his arrest by ICE agents Oct. 28. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gayle L. Helart, Southern District of Indiana, successfully prosecuted the case.

"This lengthy prison sentence sends a clear message that individuals who sexually exploit innocent children will be held accountable for their despicable actions," said Daniel T. Dill, resident agent in charge of the ICE Office of Investigations in Indianapolis. "We will continue working closely with other law enforcement agencies and prosecutors at the local, state and federal level to investigate and bring child predators to justice."

This investigation was part of Operation Predator, a nationwide ICE initiative to protect children from sexual predators, including those who travel overseas for sex with minors, Internet child pornographers, criminal alien sex offenders, and child sex traffickers. Since Operation Predator was launched in July 2003, ICE agents have arrested more than 12,000 individuals.

ICE encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free hotline at 1-866-DHS-2ICE. This hotline is staffed around the clock by investigators.

Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, at 1-800-843-5678 or http://www.cybertipline.com.