PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — The last of eight defendants charged in a federal child pornography case was sentenced this morning in federal court in Pittsburgh.

Before Judge Arthur Schwab imposed the sentence, defendant Dave Dean, 43, offered a tearful apology.

“It was outrageous, my conduct, and I deeply regret having done it. It was clear I have a serious problem,” Dean said.

He was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison and a term of probation after release that includes lifetime supervision.

“I think Dave Dean expressed a sincere, heartfelt level of remorse,” David Chontos, the defense attorney, said.

The defense wanted a shorter sentence, but prosecutors pointed out that Dean once told friends before his arrest, “he was so sexually attracted to little girls that if he ever got caught he would say ‘the little (expletive deleted) was worth it.’”

Dean and his co-defendants are accused of operating an international child exploitation enterprise from January of 2007 through September of 2009.

United States Attorney David Hickton along with the Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement John Morton held a news conference this afternoon.

“The abuse in this case was shocking and involved the graphic sexual assault of children as young as 2-and 4-years-old – 2-and 4-years-old,” Morton said. “There is little in this world more depraved than that.”

RELATED LINKS:
U.S. Department of Justice
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
More Local News