A New York man was sentenced to 35 years in prison on Thursday for multiple offenses related to child pornography and participating in the live-streamed sexual abuse of a 6-year-old boy.
Scott Lane, 37, was one of 15 men charged with taking part in the livestream, with the abuse committed and broadcast in July 2015 by William Augusta of Pennsylvania. After Lane's April 2016 arrest in New York City, where he had been working as a fundraising specialist at Pace University, police found that he also "possessed multiple videos of prepubescent child pornography," according to a news release from the Department of Justice.
Days before Lane's trial was due to begin in January 2018, he pleaded guilty to six child pornography charges, including production of child pornography and conspiracy to produce child pornography. Lane took part in the interactive livestream as "NYC Perv," offering comments and instructions to Augusta on how to further abuse the victim. Court documents indicate that Lane urged Augusta to "make out" with the boy, "get him naked" and complained "No f---ing?" at the end of the stream.
"This defendant and his co-conspirators engaged in truly hideous behavior toward a child," Bruce D. Brandler, acting U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, said in a statement. "The lengthy sentence imposed today, and the lengthy sentences imposed earlier, reflect our office's commitment to protecting vulnerable victims and punishing individuals who engage in this type of abhorrent behavior. I want to thank all the prosecutors and law enforcement agents who worked tirelessly to make sure justice was served in this case."
"Today's sentence demonstrates the severity of the crimes committed in this case," added Brian Michael, the special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Philadelphia. "The defendant perpetuated unspeakable crimes against the most vulnerable of victims, a child. Homeland Security Investigations and our law enforcement partners are devoted to identifying, investigating, and prosecuting offenders like the defendant ensuring they will never harm another child. We hope today's sentencing can bring some solace to the victim in their recovery."
Lane will be required to serve 15 years of supervised release after completing his sentence. He was also ordered to pay $50,000 in restitution to the young victim, along with $476.95 in restitution to an additional unidentified victim.
The abuse was discovered by an undercover Toronto Police detective constable who observed the stream on a platform that was used to distribute child pornography. Augusta, who had been abusing the boy for two years, was arrested in Pennsylvania one day later. In 2017, he was sentenced to 60 years behind bars followed by a lifetime of supervised release, after pleading guilty to 13 charges the previous year.
Lane and Augusta's co-conspirators each received between six and a half and 60 years in prison. There were 10 others who pleaded guilty before trial, while two cases went to trial and ended in convictions. One of the men died after pleading guilty but before sentencing took place, while another died before his trial was due to start.
Newsweek reached out to the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Middle District of Pennsylvania for comment.
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