SIOUX CITY – A Swaledale man faces the possibility of decades behind bars after pleading guilty to possessing despicable images of child porn.
Thomas Alan Newman, age 59, from Swaledale, Iowa, pled guilty in federal court on October 18, 2023, to Possession of Child Pornography.
At the plea hearing, Newman admitted knowingly possessing child pornography, including depictions involving prepubescent minors or minors who had not attained 12 years of age. Newman further admitted he knowingly possessed material that portrayed sadistic or masochistic conduct or the sexual abuse and exploitation of an infant or toddler. Newman admitted that he used Facebook to trade child pornography and shared approximately 50 videos of such content.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Newman was taken into custody by the United States Marshal after the guilty plea and will remain in custody pending sentencing. Newman faces a possible maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment without the possibility of parole, a fine of up to $250,000, a special assessment of $100, and a term of supervised release of 5 years to life following any imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kraig R. Hamit and was investigated by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and the Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Office.