A federal grand jury in Pittsburgh indicted Robert William Bauer, a 65-year-old resident of Millvale, Pennsylvania, on Mar. 23 for allegedly violating federal laws related to the sexual exploitation of a minor, according to United States Attorney Troy Rivetti.
The indictment accuses Bauer of knowingly transporting child sexual abuse material through interstate commerce on or about February 23, 2024. It also alleges that he possessed material depicting child sexual abuse on or about November 13, 2025.
If convicted, Bauer faces a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison and fines up to $500,000. The actual sentence would depend on the seriousness of the offenses and any prior criminal history under federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Assistant United States Attorney Kelly M. Locher is prosecuting the case. The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation leading to the indictment.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative started by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse nationwide. The project brings together resources from federal, state, and local agencies to prosecute offenders and rescue victims. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at www.justice.gov/psc.
Officials emphasize that an indictment is only an accusation; defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
