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A Granby man was arrested Friday, March 9, and charged in federal court in Springfield with child exploitation offenses.
Jonathan Monson, 35, was charged with sexual exploitation of a minor, distribution and receipt of child pornography, and possession of child pornography. Monson appeared in federal court today at 3:30 p.m. and was held in custody. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 22, 2018.
Monson is alleged to have used a child to produce child pornography, distributed child pornography, received child pornography, and possessed child pornography from February 2018 to March 8, 2018.
The charge of sexual exploitation of a minor provides for a sentence of no greater than 30 years in prison; the charge of distribution and receipt of child pornography provides for a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison; and the charge of possession of child pornography provides for a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison. Each charge provides for up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; Hampshire County Sheriff Patrick J. Cahillane; and Granby Police Chief Alan Wishart made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex J. Grant of Lelling’s Springfield Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the complaint are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
