Wisconsin Rapids Man Sentenced to 25 Years for Sexually Assaulting Children & Recording the Assaults

MADISON, WIS. - Timothy M. O'Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Timothy P. McDowell, 40, of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 25 years in prison for producing child pornography. This term of imprisonment will be followed by 30 years of supervised release. McDowell pleaded guilty to this offense on October 25, 2022.

Law enforcement began their investigation into McDowell in October 2021 after they received information that McDowell was posting what appeared to be self-produced child pornography onto Kik. They searched the defendant's home the next day and on his phone, found images and videos of the defendant sexually assaulting two young children. The defendant admitted producing these images and sending them to others on Kik.

Judge Conley found a 25-year sentence was warranted due to the abhorrent nature of the defendant's conduct and because the defendant created the potential for endless victimization for the children by sharing the images on the internet.

The charge against McDowell was the result of an investigation conducted by the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation and the Wood County Sheriff's Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Altman prosecuted this case.