Christopher Stout, a 49-year-old resident of Hughesville, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for the production of child pornography. The sentence was handed down on October 23, 2025, by Chief United States District Judge Matthew W. Brann.
According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, Stout communicated with a 14-year-old child through Instagram between July 28 and July 29, 2024. During this period, he directed the child to create and send sexually explicit images of herself. Authorities executed a search warrant at Stout’s home on August 23, 2024, seizing three cell phones that contained hundreds of images and videos depicting child sexual abuse material. This included material involving the same 14-year-old victim.
A forensic review revealed that Stout also communicated with multiple minors using Snapchat. These conversations were described as graphic and sexually explicit and focused on producing child sexual abuse material. Additionally, Stout distributed such material to others via the encrypted Telegram application.
Stout admitted to communicating online with minors and requesting sexually explicit images from them. He also acknowledged posing as a juvenile male in order to gain their trust.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation – Philadelphia Division, the Lycoming County District Attorney’s Office, and the Hughesville Borough Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Tatum Wilson prosecuted the case.
“This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc,” according to the statement from officials.
The press release notes that although these events occurred earlier in the year, public notification was delayed due to a government shutdown but has now been issued following a return to normal operations.
