Source: United States Department of Justice News
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Mark Robert Clow, 54, of Tallahassee, Florida, has been sentenced to 60 months in federal prison for receiving material constituting child pornography. The sentence was announced by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
“The safety and well-being of our children is paramount,” stated U.S. Attorney Coody. “Those who seek to view and maintain child pornography facilitate the abuse of children by those who produce and profit from this illegal content, robbing our children of their innocence and their very childhood. With our law enforcement partners, we will hold such offenders accountable.”
Between June 2017, and September 2021, Clow distributed, received, and possessed material containing child pornography. The pornographic material found in Clow’s possession involved a minor under the age of 12.
“A teacher holds a position of great responsibility and trust, violating that trust by preying on the innocent destroys the fabric of a healthy and conducive leaning environment for our children,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Jacksonville Assistant Special Agent in Charge K. Jim Phillips. “To collect and distribute this illicit child exploitation material supports the evil industry that creates it. Thanks to our partnership with Leon County Sheriff’s Office, this predator now faces the consequences of exploiting the innocence of our children.”
Clow’s prison sentence will be followed by 5 years of supervised release. He will also be required to register as a sex offender and will be subject to all sex offender conditions
“This sentencing reflects the dedication of prosecutors and our law enforcement agencies to vigorously pursue justice in these cases,” said Sheriff Walt McNeil. “The Leon County Sheriff’s Office is committed to working with our partners to ensure anyone who is sexually abuses children and/or produces, obtains or shares images of such abuse faces justice.”
This conviction was the result of an investigation conducted by the Homeland Security Investigations and the Leon County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Meredith L. Steer.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.