Cedar Rapids man sentenced to 140 years for sex exploitation of children, child porn

CEDAR RAPIDS — A federal judge on Tuesday sentenced a Cedar Rapids man, who he called an “unrepentant child predator” for sexually exploiting children, producing child pornography and distributing it to others, to 140 years in prison.

Nathan Nosley, 30, was convicted by a jury June 9, of seven counts — sexual exploitation of children, distribution of child pornography, receipt of child pornography, three counts of possession of child pornography and accessing child pornography.

U.S. District Judge C.J. Williams, who ran the sentences consecutively, said a life sentence was appropriate because although he was acquitted in state court for molesting a 7-year-old girl, the evidence shows he did commit the crime, which he admitted in a text message in this case and the federal crimes occurred after that trial.

Nosley showed no remorse and blames the child for his acts, “which is absurd,” Williams said. Nosley also has no empathy for the children he has abused, and he endangered the life of investigators when he pulled a loaded handgun on one of them during his arrest, he added.

Nosley’s lawyer asked for a variance — less time — saying the advisory guideline sentence of 140 years was greater than it needed to be to meet the goals of punishment, deterrence and rehabilitation.

Nosley also maintained his innocence throughout the trial and in sentencing. He declined to make a statement during the hearing.

According to trial testimony, Nosley persuaded, induced and enticed two girls to send him pornographic images of themselves between 2018 and last year.

He also distributed the child pornography to others, used cellphone apps to receive child pornography, accessed child pornography with a cellphone and possessed child pornography on a cellphone, memory card and in email.

Nosley was acquitted in state court April 7, 2017, of molesting a 7-year-old girl in 2016. But earlier in February, evidence in this case shows he responded to another man’s Craigslist post, saying he had a child for him and he could send him explicit photos, according to a sentencing document.

After Nosley was acquitted, on April 22, 2017, the man who posted on Craigslist responded to Nosley’s offer and Nosley sent him a photo of the 7-year-old victim.

In May 2017, Nosley emailed the man again, saying he had another friend’s 6-year-old girl that he planned to sexually abuse and then sent the man an explicit photo, according to court documents.

When confronted about these emails, Nosley told investigators that this was a “dark time” in his life when he was “heavily into drugs,” court documents stated.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Tremmel pointed out that the emails were sent shortly after Nosley was on trial in state court and he sent a series of messages and images of child pornography, which shows this wasn’t a one-time or impulsive behavior, and it wasn’t because Nosley was under the influence of drugs.

In October 2019, Nosley started having “sexual” internet communications with a 16-year-old girl, according to court documents. In February and March 2020, he persuaded the teen to sent him images and videos of herself and then met her in person and sexually abused her.

In September 2020, Nosley sent a Snapchat message to the mother of the 7-year-old victim and admitted to the crime, but claimed the girl initiated it, court documents stated.

In November, when law enforcement went to his mother’s residence to arrest him, he pulled out a loaded 9 mm handgun with a bullet in the chamber and his finger on the trigger, according to court documents. An investigator tried to get the gun out of Nosley’s hand and Nosley bit his wrist. Nosley said he wanted officers to shoot him.

“From here on out, I’m going to be attempting to kill myself and anybody else I can … I’d rather be dead,” Nosley told investigators at that time.

The handgun had an attached magazine and Nosley had four rounds of ammunition in his left front pocket, court documents stated.

Williams ordered Nosley to pay $12,000 in restitution to four child pornography victims. Each will receive $3,000.

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