CEDAR RAPIDS — A repeat Northern Iowa child sex offender who has already served federal prison time is headed toward another stiff sentence after a Mason City police investigation uncovered dozens of videos and images of children being sexually abused on his phone.
William Collins, 44, of Stacyville, pleaded guilty August 31 in federal court to receipt of child pornography, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa.
This is not Collins’ first federal child pornography conviction.
Collins was convicted in 2008 in the Northern District of Iowa of possession of child pornography and served time in federal prison. Despite that conviction and prison sentence, federal prosecutors say Collins later returned to collecting child sexual abuse material for years.
At his latest plea hearing, Collins admitted that between January 2015 and September 2025 he received and attempted to receive visual depictions of child pornography.
The disturbing material came to light during a search of Collins’ phone. Investigators found 17 videos and 75 images of child sexual abuse material, or CSAM, along with hundreds of additional images described by authorities as child erotica.
Federal prosecutors said some of the material portrayed sadistic or masochistic conduct and involved prepubescent children and toddlers. Evidence also showed Collins possessed and attempted to possess material involving a prepubescent child or a child who had not yet reached 12 years old.
Collins’ previous federal conviction dramatically increases the punishment he now faces.
He faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in federal prison and a possible maximum sentence of 40 years. Collins could also be fined as much as $250,000 and must serve at least five years of supervised release following any prison sentence.
Collins remains in the custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing.
U.S. District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams will sentence Collins after a presentence investigation report is completed.
The case was investigated by the Mason City Police Department and the Iowa Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kraig R. Hamit.
The prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide Department of Justice initiative targeting people who sexually exploit children and distribute or possess child sexual abuse material.