Ex-Fort Eisenhower airman sentenced over child pornography

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - A former U.S. Air Force airman assigned to Fort Eisenhower, has been sentenced to federal prison for possession of child sexual abuse images, according to the United States Department of Justice.

Jacob Christian Butler, 33, of Augusta, was sentenced to seven years in prison after pleading guilty to possession of child pornography, according to Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.

Butler was also ordered by a judge to register as a sex offender and to serve 15 years of supervised release when he completes his prison term, according to Steinberg.

According to a press release, Butler was a U.S. Air Force Airman First Class assigned to Fort Eisenhower with a high level of security clearance.

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“A security system at a Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility detected a prohibited cellular device in Butler’s possession when he entered the facility, and security personnel seized the phone,” the press release states.

Investigators searched the phone and found multiple photos of child sexual abuse, according to Steinberg.

A press release states that during a search of Butler’s home, more devices containing hundreds of similar photos and videos were later found.

A judge determined restitution is owed to victims identified in the images but agreed to delay the final determination of restitution pending further investigation.

The case was investigated by the FBI and the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, and prosecuted by the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason W. Blanchard and the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Counsel, according to a press release.

Anyone with information on suspected child sexual exploitation can contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 800-843-5678, or https://report.cybertip.org/.