A West Michigan man was sentenced to prison for sexually abusing a child

A West Michigan man convicted of sexually abusing a girl as part of an online child pornography network faces up to 30 years in federal prison, authorities said.

Richard Anthony Reyna Densmore, 47, of Kaleva, was sentenced by a judge in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Southern Division, in Grand Rapids, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten announced Thursday. .

“This case represents a new and depraved threat to our children and communities: violent online extremists who manipulate their young victims into harming themselves and creating sexually explicit images,” Totten said in a statement. “While we will always fight to hold criminals like Richard Densmore accountable, we want to prevent this crime as much as possible. Parents: please talk to your children about this threat, monitor their social media use, and let them know they can always come to you if they mess up.”

Densmore’s attorney was not immediately available for comment Friday.

But his lawyer, Christopher Gibbons, said in an Oct. 24 sentencing memorandum that his client “freely admits his fault in this case” and “does not minimize the scope and unfairness of his conduct.”

Gibbons’ note also stated that Densmore had struggled with mental illness, anxiety and depression throughout his life. He also stated that his client’s problems worsened after his ex-wife died of cancer.

Authorities said the defendant was a member of 764, a network of violent extremists whose aim is to normalize the production, sharing and possession of child pornography, as well as to desensitize and corrupt young people to future acts of violence.

A federal major grand jury indicts Densmore in February He is charged with sexual exploitation of a child, conspiracy to sexually exploit a child, coercion and enticement, and possession of child pornography.

They said Densmore used the online pseudonym “Rabid” to create a chat room that posted acts of self-harm and sexually explicit conduct by minors, such as writing or cutting their skin. Authorities said he encouraged and encouraged minors to commit these acts.

In one case, Densmore admitted in September 2022 that he paid another user of the chat room cryptocurrency to persuade an underage girl to send him a picture of her bare chest with the word “Rabies” written on it, prosecutors said.

After expressing her reservations, the girl contacted another user with whom she had an online relationship and asked him to send her a nude photo with the word “Rabid” written across her chest, according to federal agents. Densmore told them he also paid the second user with cryptocurrency.

Investigators said the girl sent Densmore and another user a nude video with text written on her chest.

“Richard Densmore will spend the next 30 years in federal prison for his role in creating 764 online networks that sexually exploited a child and forced children to record themselves harming themselves, engaging in sexually explicit acts, and engaging in violence,” said Attorney General Merrick Garland. he said in a statement. “No child should be subjected to this heinous abuse. The Department of Justice will ensure that criminals involved in this depraved behavior are held accountable in court.”

He agreed to plead guilty to sexual battery of a child in July, according to court records. The crime must carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years in prison.

“Today’s sentencing of Richard Densmore, who sexually exploited and victimized children, reaffirms the FBI’s steadfast commitment to bringing to justice those who harm our youth,” Special Agent in Charge Cheyvoryea Gibson of the FBI in Michigan said in a statement. he said. “This case is a powerful reminder that there are serious consequences for those who prey on children.”

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@CharlesERamirez

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