Child Porn Charge Leads To Guilty Plea From Fredericksburg Man

FREDERICKSBURG, VA — A man from Fredericksburg pleaded guilty to possessing and producing child pornography in federal court, the U.S. Attorney's Office announced last week.

The man, Chad Michael Lehofer, is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 16, 2023. He could face up to 30 years in prison, based on federal sentencing guidelines.

Authorities said Lehofer had inappropriate conversations with a child from Dec. 2018 through April 2019. Lehofer tried to convince the child to produce explicit photos and videos for him.

When the child tried to end contact with him, Lehofer threatened to expose the child to their mother and friends, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. Lehofer also claimed that he was watching the child's house and that he would be waiting there, according to investigators.

The child made an explicit video and sent it to Lehofer in response to the threat.

"After obtaining a warrant to search Lehofer’s cell phone, law enforcement discovered that his phone contained numerous images and videos of child sexual abuse material involving prepubescent minors," the U.S. Attorney's Office said in a news release.

Lehofer's recent case was brought to federal court as a part of Project Safe Childhood.

Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative of the Department of Justice "to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse," according to a news release. The project began in May 2006, and focuses on locating, apprehending, and prosecuting people who sexually exploit children through the internet. The project also works to identify and rescue victims of sexual abuse.

"The threat of sexual predators soliciting children for physical sexual contact is well-known and serious," the project's website says. "The danger of perpetrators who produce, distribute and possess child pornography is equally dramatic and disturbing."

Resources are available for people who are victims of sexual exploitation and violence. The National Center on Sexual Exploitation hosts an array of resources for victims and their families on their website.

A hotline for child victims can be reached at 1-800-25ABUSE. Further resources can be obtained from the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network