DES MOINES, Iowa—A 28-year old Ames man has been sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to Federal charges of Child Exploitation and Child Pornography.  Sentencing was held last week in Des Moines in a case prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.  A release from the U.S. Attorney’s office Monday said that Tyler Gene Harris, 28 of Ames was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Rebecca Goodgame Ebinger to 360 months in prison on the charges of sexual exploitation of a child, distribution of child pornography and possession of child pornography.  Judge Ebinger ordered 15-years of supervised released to follow his prison term.  Harris pleaded guilty in November 2018 to six counts of sexual exploitation of a child, one count of distribution of child pornography and two counts of possession of child pornography.

According to the released from the United States Attorney’s Office, Harris admitted the between December 2016 and April 2018, he knowingly persuaded, induced, enticed, or coerced victims to engage in sexually explicit conduct.  Harris also admitted to distributing visual depictions of the activity.  Harris was also ordered to pay $900 to the Crime Victim’s Assistance Fund.

This investigation was conducted by the Ames Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations and the Boone Police Department.

(contributed information, United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Iowa)