GALVESTON, Texas — A registered sex offender was sentenced to more than 21 years in federal prison for multiple child sexual abuse material-related offenses following an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Galveston and the Houston Metro Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
Dan McClure, a 71-year-old resident of Pearland, was sentenced in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas to serve 262 months for the receipt of child pornography and 240 months for the possession of child pornography. The sentences will run concurrently for a total of 262 months in federal prison. McClure was further ordered to register as a sex offender and to serve the rest of his life on supervised release following completion of his prison term. During that time, he must comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet.
McClure pleaded guilty to the charges on May 17.
The investigation began when authorities learned of an individual who had uploaded a child sexual abuse image. They determined the owner of the IP address associated with it was a registered sex offender living in Pearland identified as McClure.
Law enforcement officials executed a search warrant at his residence and seized numerous devices, including one McClure had hidden in the ceiling. Forensic examination revealed two of the devices contained child sexual abuse material. Authorities ultimately found a total of 831 images of child sexual abuse material, 736 of which contained prepubescent minors. Approximately 100 included sadomasochistic conduct.
At the hearing, the court heard evidence that McClure has had a sexual interest in children since the late 1980s. This led him to sexually abuse at least three minor girls and collect child sexual abuse material over the last two decades.
McClure will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sherri L. Zack and Kimberly Ann Leo are prosecuting the case.
For more news and information on HSI’s efforts to aggressively investigate child exploitation and child pornography in Southeast Texas follow us on X, formerly known as Twitter, @HSIHouston.
HSI encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free Tip Line at 866-347-2423. The tipline is staffed around the clock by investigators. From outside the U.S. and Canada, callers should dial 802-872-6199. Hearing impaired users can call TTY 802-872-6196.
HSI is the principal investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), responsible for investigating transnational crime and threats, specifically those criminal organizations that exploit the global infrastructure through which international trade, travel, and finance move. HSI’s workforce of more than 8,700 employees consists of more than 6,000 special agents assigned to 237 cities throughout the United States, and 93 overseas locations in 56 countries. HSI’s international presence represents DHS’ largest investigative law enforcement presence abroad and one of the largest international footprints in U.S. law enforcement.
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