A Harlan man, Jesse Daniel Blaine, 42, has been sentenced to 84 months in federal prison for receiving child pornography. The sentencing took place on December 12, 2024.
Court documents reveal that the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received a CyberTip about an account linked to Blaine, which was found to have received files containing child sexual abuse material. Law enforcement officials conducted a search of Blaine’s residence in Harlan and seized electronic devices. A forensic examination of these devices indicated that Blaine used them to receive, view, and possess images and videos of child sexual abuse material. He also searched for child sex stories.
Following his prison term, Blaine will undergo a five-year period of supervised release. In the federal system, parole is not available. Additionally, he has been ordered to pay $21,000 in restitution.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa. The investigation involved several agencies: the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation-Cybercrime Bureau, Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation-Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation-Child Exploitation Task Force.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse. This project brings together resources from federal, state, and local levels to locate and prosecute individuals who exploit children online and rescue victims.
For further information about Project Safe Childhood, visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.