Yakima, Washington – Acting United States Attorney Richard Barker announced the sentencing of Aaron Edger Dollarhide, a 39-year-old resident of Ellensburg, Washington. Chief United States District Judge Stanley A. Bastian sentenced Dollarhide to 180 months in federal prison for one count of receipt of child pornography. This sentence follows a prior conviction for a similar offense. Additionally, Chief Judge Bastian imposed five years of supervised release.
Court documents and information presented at the sentencing hearing revealed that on January 19, 2022, Homeland Security Investigation agents and Ellensburg police officers executed a search warrant at Dollarhide’s residence in Ellensburg. During this operation, agents seized Dollarhide’s phone.
A forensic review of the phone uncovered that on January 18, 2022, Dollarhide had downloaded a folder containing digital files with child sexual abuse material. Investigators also found an additional 687 videos depicting children being sexually abused on the device.
In 2012, Dollarhide was previously sentenced to prison after being convicted of second-degree child molestation in Yakima County Superior Court.
“Today’s sentence reflects our commitment to protecting the most vulnerable members of our community and holding individuals accountable for exploiting children,” stated Acting United States Attorney Richard Barker. “Mr. Dollarhide’s actions of repeatedly downloading and possessing child pornography, despite a prior conviction for molesting a child, demonstrate a disturbing disregard for the safety and well-being of children. Our office will continue to pursue and prosecute those who exploit children, and we will work tirelessly to ensure that those who do harm young children will face the full consequences of their actions.”
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael Murphy.
