CEDAR RAPIDS – An Iowa man is facing federal charges for possessing child pornography on his computer and flash drive.
Donald Etheredge, age 51, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, has been charged with receipt and possession of child pornography. The charges are contained in an indictment unsealed today in United States District Court in Cedar Rapids.
The Indictment alleges that, between 2013 and 2015, Etheredge received child pornography and possessed it on a computer and a flash drive. The Indictment also alleges that Etheredge was convicted of shipment and transportation of child pornography in the Northern District of Iowa in 2004.
If convicted, Etheredge faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of 80 years’ imprisonment, a $750,000 fine, $15,300 in special assessments, and at least five years and up to life on supervised release following any imprisonment.
Etheredge appeared today in federal court in Cedar Rapids and was held without bond. Etheredge’s next appearance for trial is set for March 27, 2017.
As with any criminal case, a charge is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Tremmel and is being investigated by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and the Cedar Rapids Police Department.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.
