PEORIA, AZ — The Arizona Attorney General's Office has sentenced Joseph Charles Nolan from Peoria to 12 years in prison for sexual exploitation of a minor.
In 2016, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Tucson found a computer located in the Phoenix area believed to be sharing videos of graphic child sexual exploitation online.
“Predators may try and hide behind the internet, but anyone who sexually exploits children will be aggressively prosecuted by our office,” said Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich.
According to a press release from the Arizona Attorney General's Office, investigators narrowed down the search which led to Nolan's Peoria home. HSI got a search warrant on November 3, 2016.
Agents searched Nolan's apartment and found a laptop with two external storage drives, which contained images and videos of child sexual exploitation involving a girl believed to be under 13.
“Child exploitation investigations are one of HSI’s highest priorities, because children remain vulnerable to online abuse and are deserving of our protection and concern,” said Scott Brown, special agent in charge for HSI Phoenix. “While many of these perpetrators attempt to shield their illegal activities and hide behind their keyboards, HSI and their law enforcement partners will continue efforts to locate them and bring them to justice. Those attempting to evade law enforcement by hiding in the dark parts of the internet seeking to exploit children or conduct other illicit activity will be found and be held accountable for their despicable crimes.”
Nolan pleaded guilty to two felony counts and will begin a lifetime probation once he is released in 2030 and will have to register as a sex offender.
