A federal grand jury in Erie has indicted David Garrett Struchen, 20, of Titusville, Pennsylvania, on charges related to the sexual exploitation of children. The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti.
The indictment alleges that between June and July 2024, Struchen induced a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing visual depictions. He is also accused of possessing and distributing these depictions to the minor victim.
If convicted, Struchen faces up to 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $500,000. Sentencing would be determined according to federal guidelines based on the severity of the offenses and any prior criminal history.
Assistant United States Attorney Christian A. Trabold is prosecuting the case. The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Titusville Police Department.
The case is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative started by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to address child sexual exploitation and abuse. Project Safe Childhood coordinates efforts among federal, state, and local agencies to find and prosecute offenders and rescue victims. More information about this initiative can be found at https://www.justice.gov/psc.
"An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty," officials stated.
