Indiana Man Sentenced to 25 Years for Producing Child Pornography

MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Adrian C. Gardiner, 42, Hammond, Indiana, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William Conley to 25 years in federal prison for producing child pornography.  This term of imprisonment will be followed by 30 years of supervised release.  Gardiner pleaded guilty to this charge on March 25, 2021. 

Gardiner drove from Hammond, Indiana to Cottage Grove, Wisconsin and sexually assaulted a 12-year-old child living there on numerous occasions in 2019, recording it at least two times.  In addition to sexually assaulting the minor, he gave the minor alcohol and threatened the minor’s family. 

Judge Conley called the defendant’s conduct “horrific” and noted that it caused harm not only to the victim, but to her entire family. 

The charge against Gardiner was the result of an investigation conducted by the Cottage Grove Police Department, the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Indiana State Police.  The prosecution of the case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Altman.