CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A Hickory man was sentenced Tuesday to 11 years in prison for possessing over 50,000 images and videos of child pornography, according to the United States Attorney’s Office.
The collection of child pornography included more than 250 victims. Court records said that some of the victims provided impact statements for the court’s consideration at sentencing.
“When you read their letters they are forever abused,” Judge Bell said at sentencing. “They live in fear for the rest of their lives.”
In February of 2023, Hickory police conducted an investigation in 39-year-old Chad Joseph Caesar after his employer flagged his computer for a security violation, according to court documents.
Police executed a search warrant at Caesar’s home and seized multiple electronic devices. Detectives analyzed the content on the computer and found over 50,000 images and videos of sexual abuse against children, according to court documents.
Officials said the visual imagery showed abuse against infants and toddlers, along with “files that contained sadistic and masochistic conduct and bestiality.”
Caesar pleaded guilty on December 6th, 2023. He will have a lifetime of supervised release following his 132-month sentence.
