Acting United States Attorney Gregory G. Brooker today announced the sentencing of WILLIAM LEONARD HELKER, 47, for distribution of child pornography. HELKER pleaded guilty on March 3, 2017, to one count of distribution of child pornography. On July 27, 2017, United States District Judge Patrick J. Schiltz sentenced HELKER to 150 months in federal prison and 15 years of supervised release.
“Helker is a dangerous child predator who disguised himself as a youth pastor. Instead of providing guidance to young people, he used his position as a trusted leader to prey upon them," said Assistant United States Attorney Katharine Buzicky. “This sentence recognizes the disturbing nature of Helker’s actions and his appalling betrayal of community trust."
“This child sexual exploitation case originated in Finland with the arrest there of another child predator," said J. Alex Khu, special agent in charge of HSI St. Paul. “In addition to our nationwide offices, Homeland Security Investigations operates 62 offices in 46 countries to work with our international law enforcement partners to identify and investigate cases like this. There is no anonymity on the internet, and there’s no place on the planet where child predators can hide."
“The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension will not tolerate those who betray the trust of a child through abhorrent crimes like those committed by Mr. Helker," said BCA Superintendent Drew Evans. “Holding him accountable for his actions in no way undoes he harm he’s done, but will prevent him from hurting even more children."
According to the defendant’s guilty plea and documents filed in court, on Oct. 22, 2016, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) received a cybertip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) indicating that a Minnesota man exchanged child pornography with and individual in Finland. The cybertip was listed as “Priority 1" because NCMEC assessed that children were currently in danger. Through a joint investigation, BCA and HSI agents were able to identify the Minnesota man as WILLIAM HELKER, a youth pastor in Cottage Grove, Minn.
According to the defendant’s guilty plea and documents filed in court, HELKER admitted to sending sexually explicit images of prepubescent children to individuals using social media. HELKER also admitted to engaging in sexually explicit online chat conversations with someone who described herself as a 14-year-old as well as possessing thousands of image and video files containing child pornography. Additionally, HELKER admitted to creating sexually explicit collages using ordinary snapshots of real minors and superimposing the photographs onto pornographic images.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Katharine T. Buzicky
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Homeland Security Investigations-St. Paul, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and originated with a cybertip from the European Police Office and the National Center to Missing and Exploited Children.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, PSC marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identify and rescue victims. For more information about PSC, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/ For more information about internet safety education, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/resources.html and click on the tab “resources."
Defendant Information:
WILLIAM LEONARD HELKER, 47
Pine City, MN
Convicted:
* Distribution of Child Pornography, 1 count
Sentenced:
*
150 months in prison
*
15 years supervised release
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
