A Federal Court Judge sentenced Jesse Sawyer, 26, from Troy to 30 years in prison Tuesday after he pled guilty to producing and receiving child porn.
The judge said she could have sentenced Sawyer to 80 years in prison, but told him she took into account sexual abuse he went through as a child. The judge said that abuse went beyond anything she has heard of so far as a Federal Court Judge, but she said that doesn't excuse what he did to his victims.
In court Tuesday, the judge said that Sawyer took sexually explicit pictures of a four and six year old victim and had 87 child porn images on his phone.
Sawyer choked back tears as he apologized before his sentencing. He said that no one should have to go through what he did and that he prays his victims get the treatment they need and don't have lasting effects.
Before announcing her decision, the judge told Sawyer she recognizes he was severely abused starting at a young age. She said that calling his childhood horrid and a nightmare would be understatements. But she said his victims are her focus and that it's clear he knew right from wrong. The judge also told Sawyer that right now she believes he is a danger to the community.
Before Sawyer was led out, the judge told him she didn't take his whole life, that he has a chance to live outside prison. But she urged him to take advantage of all treatment and programs in prison and to change his life.
UPDATE: Jesse Sawyer has been sentenced to 30 years in prison. The judge cited Sawyer's own sexual abuse as a child as the reason he did not sentence him to the maximum sentence of 80 years. Tune in at 5 for a full report.
ALBANY -- A Troy man who sparked a nationwide manhunt is set to be sentenced on child pornography charges on Tuesday.
Jesse Sawyer pleaded guilty to distributing child pornography last year after he was found and arrested in Florida.
