Easton man sentenced to 28 years in prison for sexually exploiting child

A U.S. District Judge sentenced an Easton man to more than 28 years in prison for sexual exploiting a child to produce child pornography.

Patrick Shawn Sutphin, 44, formerly of Easton, pleaded guilty to charges stemming from sexual acts with a 13-year-old girl that happened between August and November 2015, according to his plea agreement.

The plea agreement states that Sutphin bought gifts for the girl and sexually abused her.

The two had reportedly communicated with each other via text message, video chat and social media. Records of their conversations show discussion of the sexual acts committed, and Sutphin's intentions to engage in further sexual activity.

Sutphin additionally took sexually explicit photos of the minor with his cellphone.

Officials say the sexual abuse was finally reported to law enforcement on November 3, 2015 and Sutphin's home was searched the next day, his cellphone and evidence seized by officers.

The case against Sutphin was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative by the Department of Justice to fight childhood sexual abuse.

In addition to his sentence of 345 months in prison, Sutphin will face a lifetime of supervised release afterwards. U.S. District Judge George L. Russell III ordered Sutphin must register as a sex offender once he is released, as part of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.

The judge ordered Sutphin's federal sentence to be served concurrently to another sentence from the Circuit Court for Talbot County in a related case.