Man Sentenced to 25 Years for Sexually Exploiting a Child

MADISON, WIS. – Scott C. Blader, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Matthew R. Howard, 23, Madison, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 25 years in federal prison for sexually exploiting a child.  The prison term will be followed by 25 years of supervised release. 

On October 1, 2018, Howard was convicted of two counts of using a minor to produce sexually explicit videos, following a one-day trial in U.S. District Court in Madison.  Prior to the trial, Howard pleaded guilty to federal charges of possessing, distributing, and receiving child pornography.    

In August 2017, the Madison Police Department received information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children about a tip from an online service provider that an IP address registered to an address in Madison was used to upload and share images of child pornography.  A search warrant was executed and an external hard drive was seized.  The forensic analysis of that hard drive showed that Howard had recorded himself engaging in sexually explicit conduct with a minor, once in 2014 when the victim was nine years old, and once in 2017 when the victim was eleven years old. 

In imposing sentence, Judge Conley noted that Howard’s conduct involved repeated abuse over several years and said, “It is essential to protect others from the defendant.” 

The charges against Howard are the result of an investigation by the Madison Police Department, Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, and Wisconsin Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.  The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Julie Pfluger and Diane Schlipper.