James L. Santelle, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced today that a federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Matthew J. Spanske (age: 29), of Racine with
one count of producing child pornography, one count of possessing child pornography, and four counts of transporting child pornography.

If convicted of the production charge Spanske faces a penalty of between 15 and 30 years imprisonment. The transportation charges each carry penalties of a minimum 5 years up to a maximum 20 years imprisonment. The possession charge carries penalties of up to 10 years imprisonment. Each of the six counts also carries a maximum fine of $250,000 fine and a $100 special assessment, plus a period of supervised release up to life.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and has been assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Stephen A. Ingraham for prosecution.

According to United States Attorney Santelle, “The Department of Justice has made the protection of our nation’s children a top priority through Project Safe Childhood, and prosecutions such as this further that priority. The use of children as subjects of pornographic materials is harmful to the emotional and mental health of the child.”

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt

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