Calaveras Man Sentenced 25 Years For Child Pornography
Valley Springs, CA — Following a multi-state investigation by the FBI, a Valley Springs man was sentenced to 25 years in prison, which will be followed by 10 years of supervised release.
30-year-old Nicholas Carroll Watkins used the internet applications Kik Messanger and SayHi to engage in sexually explicit communications with other adults, as well as numerous minor females. The US Attorney Eastern District of California’s office reports that Watkins discussed his sexual interest in children and often solicited and received explicit images directly from minors.
Watkins will also be required to register as a sex offender. The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.
The FBI offices in both Stockton and Miami were involved in the investigation.