U.S. Attorney Vanessa R. Waldref | U.S. Department of Justice
United States District Judge Thomas O. Rice has sentenced Nathan Roy Stout, a 39-year-old resident of Spokane, Washington, to 15 years in federal prison for possession of child pornography. The sentencing took place on December 11, 2024. In addition to the prison term, Judge Rice ordered a lifetime of supervised release and restitution amounting to $9,000.
Court documents reveal that in January 2023, while residing at the Residential Reentry Center (RRC) in Spokane following a 2018 conviction for distributing child pornography, Stout was found with child pornography on his cell phone. A staff member at the RRC discovered the material, and Stout later admitted to his case manager that he had been downloading and deleting such content.
An FBI agent conducted an extraction from Stout's phone and discovered 116 files depicting young children being sexually abused. The investigation also revealed multiple file cleaners intended to erase files on the device.
"Mr. Stout downloaded child exploitation material, even while serving a sentence for a similar crime," stated United States Attorney Vanessa Waldref. She praised her team of prosecutors and investigators dedicated to protecting vulnerable community members. "Every case we investigate and prosecute – every victim identified and rescued – brings some level of justice for those who suffer the tragic effects of child abuse and exploitation."
Gregory L. Austin, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Seattle field office, added: "Mr. Stout continued to download and view child pornography while on probation following a sentence for the same offense." He emphasized that protecting children is one of the most noble tasks entrusted to the FBI.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse nationwide by coordinating resources across federal, state, and local levels.
The FBI conducted the investigation into this case which was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rebecca R. Perez.