Man gets 15 years for child porn charges

COEUR d'ALENE - A 43-year-old Spokane man received a 15-year sentence last week for three counts of sexual exploitation of a minor.

The district court will retain jurisdiction in the case.

Lee Warren Nelson was sentenced by District Judge John Mitchell, who ordered that for each count Nelson would be sentenced to one year fixed and four years indeterminate, to run consecutively.

Judge Mitchell considered Nelson's lack of remorse and the need for additional rehabilitation, as well as the need for punishment in a case involving the exploitation of the abuse of children, according to a press release from the Kootenai County Prosecutor's Office.

On Oct. 20, 2014, investigators from the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force executed a search warrant on Nelson's apartment in Post Falls after discovering Nelson was sharing child pornography on an Internet-based peer-to-peer network. Investigators seized Nelson's computers and other digital evidence.

A forensic analysis of the evidence revealed hundreds of images/videos of sexually explicit conduct including images of prepubescent children, the press release states.

The forensic review also revealed that Nelson used computer search terms consistent with a person trying to obtain child pornography.

The Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force is a statewide coalition of local, state and federal law enforcement and prosecution agencies.

The task force is focused on apprehending and prosecuting individuals who use the Internet to criminally exploit children.

Prosecuting Attorney Barry McHugh praised the task force and Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Jed Whitaker, who prosecuted the case.

"This was a very disturbing case involving vulnerable children and highly offensive conduct," McHugh said. "The sentence was tailored to provide Mr. Nelson with programs designed to give him the tools necessary to avoid further inappropriate conduct. If Mr. Nelson cannot successfully complete the programs and provide the court with assurances that he can successfully complete a period of supervised probation, he will go to prison."