A man who distributed videos of a toddler being sexually abused by her mother on social media was sentenced today to nine years in federal prison.
Douglas John Buttikofer Jr., age 41, from Dubuque, Iowa, received the prison term after a February 2, 2021 guilty plea to accessing child pornography.
At the guilty plea, Buttikofer admitted that between February and March of 2020, he knowingly accessed with intent to view visual depictions of child pornography. The depictions involved at least one minor under the age of 12. Buttikofer committed the offense while on pre-trial release in the State of Illinois for the unlawful grooming of a minor. At sentencing, a witness testified that Buttikofer expressed an interest in traveling to the Philippines to engage in sex with children. The judge noted Buttikofer maintained a “persistent pursuit” of child pornography, making him a danger to the community.
Buttikofer was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Buttikofer was sentenced to 108 months’ imprisonment and fined $100. He must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
