2 Georgia women sentenced for creating, distributing child pornography
On Wednesday, a judge sentenced two Georgia women to lengthy federal sentences for producing and distributing child porn.
U.S. District Court Judge Stan Baker sentenced Melanie Smith, 30, of Rincon and Holly Clayton, 34, of Port Wentworth. Smith, who also goes by the name Melanie Small, was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison. She’s ordered to pay $3 million in restitution after pleading guilty to production of child pornography, Bobby L. Christine, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, said in a news release. Clayton was sentenced to 12 years in prison after pleading guilty to distributing child pornography.
Smith and Clayton’s prison sentences will be consecutive to any sentence they may receive for pending state charges of child molestation. In addition, Smith will serve 20 years of supervised release after completion of her 30-year federal prison sentence. Clayton must serve 15 years of supervised release after completion of her sentence.
“The prison time meted out to these defendants will protect our community for decades, though it pales in comparison to the lifetime of pain these vulnerable victims likely will endure,” Christine said.
The incidents reportedly date to April 2019, according to a report by Savannah news station WTOC. There are also charges pending against a third defendant, according to the Department of Justice.
“These predators have stolen the innocence of these children, forcing them to be re-victimized every time those horrific images are viewed,” acting Special Agent in Charge Robert Hammer said in a written statement. Hammer oversees HSI operations in Georgia and Alabama.
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Stephanie has been telling stories her whole life. Her interest in the written word started with short stories and journal entries about run-ins with classroom bullies as a child and matured to writing for her high school newspaper over the years. She has written and edited for The Tennessean, Augusta Chronicle and American City & County.
