A Limestone County resident has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for child pornography offenses, according to an announcement from U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.
Clayton Sawyer, Jr., 67, of Athens, Alabama, received a sentence of 180 months in prison and a lifetime of supervised release from U.S. District Judge Harold D. Mooty, III. The court also ordered Sawyer to pay a $3,000 special assessment under the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Act. Sawyer pleaded guilty in December 2025 to possession of child pornography.
According to the plea agreement, United States Probation Officers searched Sawyer’s home on February 4, 2025. During the search, they found a Samsung smartphone concealed inside a box labeled “Breakfast Essentials.” Forensic analysis uncovered 18 images of child pornography on the device. At that time, Sawyer was not allowed to possess any electronic communication devices without prior approval as part of his supervised release conditions.
Sawyer was serving a life term of supervised release after previous federal convictions in the Northern District of Alabama for receipt and possession of child pornography.
The investigation was conducted by FBI Birmingham – Huntsville RA and the United States Probation Office. Assistant United States Attorney Daniel S. McBrayer prosecuted the case.
This prosecution 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 by coordinating efforts among federal, state, and local agencies to find offenders and rescue victims. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
