A Dauphin County man has been sentenced to 29 years in federal prison for producing child pornography. Michael Boyd Damgaard, 37, of Dauphin, Pennsylvania, received the sentence from United States District Judge Keli M. Neary. In addition to the prison term, Damgaard will serve 15 years on supervised release after his incarceration.
According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, Damgaard contacted two adolescent girls aged 14 and 15 through online platforms between April and June 2020. After learning their ages, he engaged in illegal sexual activity with them. Damgaard created videos and digital images documenting his acts with one victim and persuaded both victims to send him sexually explicit images using online messaging services.
Damgaard pleaded guilty on September 25, 2024, to producing child pornography as part of a plea agreement. He admitted to all offenses charged in the federal indictment, which included producing, receiving, and possessing child pornography as well as coercing and enticing minors into illicit sexual activity.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pennsylvania State Police. Assistant United States Attorney Christian T. Haugsby prosecuted the matter.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative started by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to address child sexual exploitation and abuse. The program brings together federal, state, and local resources to pursue offenders who exploit children and works to identify and rescue victims. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at www.usdoj.gov/psc.
