Timothy T. Duax U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa
A Rockford, Iowa man has pleaded guilty in federal court to receiving child pornography. Anthony Paul Harden, 47, admitted to one count of receipt of child pornography during a hearing in Cedar Rapids.
According to evidence presented in the plea agreement and at an earlier hearing, law enforcement searched Harden’s residence in August 2025 and seized four electronic devices containing child pornography. Investigators determined that between May 2023 and July 2025, Harden received and possessed hundreds of images and videos depicting child pornography, including material involving toddlers as well as sadistic and masochistic conduct.
The prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, a national initiative started by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at addressing child sexual exploitation and abuse. The project coordinates efforts among federal, state, and local agencies to identify offenders and victims. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at www.usdoj.gov/pscLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link.. Resources on internet safety education are also available through the same site under the “resources” tab.
Harden’s sentencing will take place before United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams after a presentence report is completed. Following his guilty plea, Harden was taken into custody by the United States Marshal Service and will remain detained until sentencing. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and up to twenty years’ imprisonment, along with a possible $250,000 fine, special assessments totaling $35,100, and lifetime supervised release after incarceration.
Assistant United States Attorney Devra T. Hake is prosecuting the case. The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation together with the Floyd County Sheriff’s Office.
