Man sentenced 30 years for child porn

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - A Lafayette man was sentenced to 30 years in prison for receiving, distributing, transporting, and possessing child pornography.

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a tip in November of 2009. The tip said sexually explicit images of children had been posted to a website traced back to 41-year-old Christopher Laraneta's Lafayette address.

A search of Laraneta's house revealed child pornography images and videos on Laraneta's computer.

Laraneta's computer had over a thousand images and videos depicted minors under the age of 12 engaged in sexual acts.

Laraneta admitted the child pornography belonged to him.

Laraneta was also found to have distributed child pornography for new child pornography images and videos for himself.

He was also found to have been involved in sexual abuse or exploitation of several minor children.

Two victims depicted in the images and videos were granted their requests for restitution to pay for future psychological counseling, treatment, lost wages, and other expenses. The restitution was over $4.2 million.

Laraneta was sentenced to 30 years for his seven felony convictions. He was also ordered to serve a lifetime term of supervised release following his release from prison. He will have to register as a sex offender in the state where he lives, works or attends school.

This case resulted from an investigation by Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, including U.S. Immigration and Custom Office of Homeland Security Investigations, the Lafayette Police Department and the Tippecanoe County Sheriff's Department.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.

For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit their website .