Jesup man to serve 14 years in federal prison for child porn 

CEDAR RAPIDS - A Jesup man who distributed child pornography was sentenced Tuesday in federal court to 14 years in prison.

William Smith, 34, pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography March 2. During the plea hearing, he admitted to using a cellphone to distribute child pornography to others in June 2013.

Smith distributed over 25 images on his cellphone and also used his cell's messaging programs to send the images to others, according to a sentencing document. Prosecutors argued for more prison time based on his criminal history of prostitution and drug convictions, and because the images were of a sadistic or masochistic nature.

U.S. District Chief Judge Linda Reade also ordered Smith to serve an eight-year term of supervised release following his prison time and register as a sex offender.

The investigation, led by the Marion Police Department, was part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the U.S. Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.