Show-Me State Times

U.S. District Judge Sarah E. Pitlyk sentenced Clinton Rongey, a Carter County, Missouri resident, to 30 years in prison for producing child pornography. The sentencing took place on Monday following Rongey's conviction by jurors in December at the U.S. District Court in Cape Girardeau.

Rongey, now 53, was found guilty of one count of sexual exploitation of a minor. During the trial, evidence and testimony revealed that between February and November 2023, Rongey produced over 100 images containing child sexual abuse material featuring a victim who was three and four years old at the time. According to a government sentencing memorandum, Rongey engaged in this activity multiple times while he was entrusted with the care of the victim.

The investigation was conducted by the Carter County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Julie Hunter and Nathan Chapman prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. The project aims to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals exploiting children via the Internet while identifying and rescuing victims.