A Franklin man described as “sadistic” by prosecutors was sentenced to decades in prison for distributing “tens of thousands of images and videos containing child sexual abuse material,” according to the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky.
U.S. Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner of the Western District of Kentucky announced earlier this week that 27-year-old Joseph Roush was sentenced to 60 years in federal prison after being convicted of distribution of child pornography, possession of child pornography and sexual exploitation of a child.
There is no parole in the federal system.
The court additionally ordered Roush to pay $69,000 in restitution, $3,000 to each of the 23 identified victims.
“Over the course of several years, Roush possessed and distributed tens of thousands of images and videos containing child sexual abuse material. Investigators located approximately 20,000 images and videos across his numerous devices,” prosecutors said.
Roush, according to officials, “participated in the hands-on sexual exploitation of children” in other countries via an online streaming platform and used a child entrusted to his care to produce images containing child sexual abuse material.
“While our prosecutors sadly see the worst in humanity, Roush stands out as particularly sadistic,” Bumgarner said. “Roush systematically abused and forever altered the lives of innocent children throughout the world. The destruction that Roush left in his wake cannot be overstated. His 60-year sentence is essentially a life sentence. My hope is he spends every last day of his life incarcerated and reflecting upon his despicable acts. And to every other pedophile out there, I hope that you look at Roush and immediately stop your immoral and horrific conduct because we will find you and you will spend the rest of your life in prison next to Roush.”
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Simpson County Sheriff’s Office.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
