Rodney McLean, a 38-year-old resident of Michigan City, Indiana, was sentenced to 292 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for producing child pornography. United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty handed down the sentence in South Bend after McLean pleaded guilty to the charge, according to an announcement by United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
Investigation and Discovery
The case began when another person discovered videos of McLean having sexual intercourse with someone under the age of 16. That individual reported the material to the Michigan City Police Department. Following the report, McLean was referred to the Homeland Security Investigations division, which ultimately led to his indictment and arrest.
According to U.S. Attorney Mildred, McLean will spend the next 24 years in prison
for the offense. Mildred noted that child exploitation and child pornography production cases carry life-altering impacts on victims and their families, requiring severe punishment.
Law Enforcement and Prosecution
The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance provided by the Indiana State Police, the Indiana State Police ICAC, the Mishawaka Police Department, and the Michigan City Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew A. Krumwied and former Assistant United States Attorney Hannah T. Jones.
HSI Chicago Special Agent in Charge Matthew Scarpino emphasized that safeguarding children from exploitation remains a top priority. The legal proceedings were brought forward as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide Department of Justice initiative launched in May 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse by coordinating federal, state, and local resources.