In a case that underscores the severity of crimes involving child sexual abuse material (CSAM), Kelly Lee Setzer, a 64-year-old Hickory man, received a 50-year prison sentence, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of North Carolina announced. After entering a guilty plea to multiple charges including production, transportation, and possession of CSAM, Setzer, in addition to his prison term, is mandated to undergo a lifetime of supervised release and to register as a sex offender upon his release.
During the investigation initiated by a search warrant executed on November 3, 2023, law enforcement seized two computers and other electronic devices from Setzer's home, which upon examination revealed over 48,000 images and videos of children being exploited sexually, some of whom were infants. With the aid of the Hickory Police Department, the FBI's examination of Setzer's electronic devices also uncovered that a prepubescent child had been sexually abused and recorded on at least four different occasions by Setzer.
According to the initial report on the U.S. Attorney's Office website, Setzer was not only found in possession of an extensive CSAM library but had also "developed an online relationship with a minor and had induced the minor to send him CSAM on multiple occasions." U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson emphasized the gravity of the crimes, saying, "Fifty years behind bars ensures he will never harm a child again." Reflecting the community's horror, U.S. District Judge Kenneth D. Bell characterized the abuse during sentencing as "horrendous torture of babies."
The case forms part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Special Agent in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr., of the FBI's Charlotte Division, also commented, praising the severity of the sentencing by saying, "At his age, a 50-year sentence is effectively a life sentence," as mentioned on the U.S. Attorney's Office website. Project Safe Childhood aims to harness federal, state, and local resources to better track down and prosecute individuals exploiting children on the internet, as well as to aid in the identification and recovery of victims.
On a final note, Setzer was ordered to pay $84,000 in restitution and his primary residence in Hickory, where he committed the crimes, was ordered to be forfeited. As Setzer remains in custody, the Federal Bureau of Prisons is tasked with his placement at a federal facility.
