United States Attorney's Office for the Western District of Washington

09/27/2022 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/27/2022 15:39

Repeat sex offender sentenced to 10-year prison term for possessing images of child rape and abuse

Department of Justice
U.S. Attorney's Office
Western District of Washington
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, September 27, 2022

Repeat sex offender sentenced to 10-year prison term for possessing images of child rape and abuse

Defendant has 15 prior convictions for sex offenses

Seattle - A 58-year-old Seattle man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to ten years in prison for possessing images of child rape and abuse, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. David C. Martin was on Washington State Department of Corrections supervision when he was arrested and charged federally in April of 2020. In sentencing Martin to lifetime supervised release following prison, U.S. District Judge James L. Robart said the sentence was due to "the need to protect society from Mr. Martin."

"Mr. Martin has a shocking and extensive criminal history -- with 15 convictions for sex crimes, including 11 for indecent exposure," said U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. "During this lengthy prison term, and the supervision that follows, I hope he gets the mental health treatment he needs to end the cycle of recidivism."

According to records filed in the case, Google Inc. first alerted the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) that a specific account was uploading images of child rape and abuse. The account was shut down and the matter was referred to the Seattle Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Seattle Police determined Martin owned the account and served a court authorized search warrant on Martin and seized his electronic devices. Forensic analysis revealed the devices contained hundreds of files depicting child rape and sexual abuse.

Martin has previously been convicted of Child Molestation 3rd Degree in Pierce County Superior Court (2001); Indecent Exposure in King County Superior Court (2009); Indecent Exposure in King County Superior Court (2015); and Voyeurism in Clark County Superior Court (2016). Due to those prior convictions Martin faced a mandatory minimum 10 years in prison.

Speaking to the court, Martin said he now understood how viewing child pornography revictimizes those who suffer child sexual abuse. Noting all the prison time he has served Martin said, "I've wasted my whole life."

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations in coordination with the Seattle Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) and the Washington State Department of Corrections.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Cecelia Gregson and Hillary Stuart.

Topic(s):
Project Safe Childhood
Cybercrime
Contact:
Press contact for the U.S. Attorney's Office is Communications Director Emily Langlie at (206) 553-4110 or [email protected].