Ellettsville man charged with production of child pornography

Defendant allegedly placed hidden cameras in the bedroom and bathrooms of victims

PRESS RELEASE

Indianapolis – United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced today that Mathew K. Fisher, 38, Ellettsville, was indicted on child pornography charges while posing on Facebook as a high school student. Mathew K. Fisher 38, was indicted on charges of production, attempted production and distribution of child pornography.

“Protecting our innocent children from internet predators will remain a top priority of our office,” said Minkler. “Producing and distributing child pornography re-victimizes our children every time it is passed from one person to another.”

In December 2012, Fisher allegedly placed small video cameras in the bedroom and bathroom of two minor victims whom he was familiar with. The cameras recorded the two girls in various stages of undress. He then uploaded one of those photos to a website for further distribution.

In November 2014, he victimized a third young girl using Facebook. He friended her posing as a 17 year old high school student, sending her fake photos of himself. He then enticed her to take sexually explicit photos of herself and send them him.

According to Assistant United States Attorney Bradley P. Shepard, who is prosecuting this case for the government, Fisher faces up to 30 years’ incarceration if convicted on all counts.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Office and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals, who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resource.”

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