Shannon “Michael” McTighe, 46, formerly of Thornville, Ohio, was sentenced in U.S. District Court on Aug. 4 to 480 months in prison for sexually exploiting at least four minor victims.
“McTighe committed horrific hands-on offenses against four young girls and amassed hundreds of thousands of videos and images of child sexual abuse,” said U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II. “Putting this defendant in federal prison for the next 40 years protects these victims from further abuse and online exploitation.”
According to court documents, McTighe possessed approximately 300,000 images and videos of child pornography on his electronic devices. The collection included newly created material that depicted McTighe sexually abusing four minor victims to whom he had access. The abuse of one victim began when she was seven years old.
McTighe was arrested by FBI agents in Canton, Ohio, on June 12, 2025. At the time of his arrest, agents recovered numerous digital media devices and three pairs of female juvenile underwear from a safe in his residence. His cell phone history included search terms such as underage, jailbait girls, and extremely young.
McTighe pleaded guilty in February 2026 to sexual exploitation of a minor and possession of child pornography. The sentence was announced by United States Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II and Jason Cromartie, Special Agent in Charge with the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Cincinnati Division; Assistant United States Attorney Emily Czerniejewski is representing the government.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse through coordinated efforts among federal, state, and local agencies.