SCRANTON, Pa. (WTAJ) – A federal grand jury indicted a Center County man for production and possession of child pornography, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.

William Welsh, 28, of State College, allegedly “employed” a minor victim to engage in sexually explicit conduct on Jan. 15, 2023, according to the indictment. Welsh also allegedly possessed images showing minors under the age of 12 engaging in sexually explicit content.

The case was brought to court as part of Project Safe Childhood, which is a national initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. The project aims to combat the “growing epidemic” of child sexual exploitation and abuse.

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The maximum penalty under federal law for this crime is 30 years in prison, a period of supervised release after prison, and a fine. Assistant United States Attorney Sarah R. Lloyd is prosecuting the case.

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