Rapid City Man Sentenced for Possessing Child Pornography

United States Attorney Marty J. Jackley announced that a man charged with distribution of child pornography was sentenced on May 20, 2009, by US District Court Chief Judge Karen E. Schreier. Ryan Murphey, age 33, of Rapid City, was sentenced to 12 ½ years’ imprisonment, twenty years’ supervised release, and ordered to pay a special assessment of $100 to the Victim's Assistance Fund. Murphey was indicted by a federal grand jury on July 23, 2008. On February 27, 2009, he pled guilty to possessing thousands of images minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct (child porn) on his home computer.

This case was investigated by the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, FBI, Rapid City Police Department, and Pennington County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant US Attorney Gregg S. Peterman.

Murphey was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshal. This case is being brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In February, 2006, the Justice Department launched Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys Offices, Project Safe Childhood coordinates federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

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