Anchorage Daily News

A 47-year-old California man convicted of four charges connected with child pornography in Alaska has been sentenced to 36 years in prison.

Danny Michael Harvey of Lancaster, Calif., was convicted in November of attempted aggravated sexual abuse, attempted manufacture of child pornography, transportation of child pornography, and possession of child pornography.

The case began with an undercover Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent responding to Harvey's post in a pedophile-oriented chat room, federal prosecutors said. Harvey was seeking access to "kink minded" families or young females, prosecutors said.

The federal agent told Harvey he was a grandfather with sole custody of his 5-year-old granddaughter and 4-year-old grandson. Harvey indicated a strong desire to sexually abuse the girl and said he would be willing to travel for the "real thing," especially if he could film or photograph the anticipated abuse, prosecutors said.

Less than a week later, Harvey bought an airline ticket, a laptop computer with a video camera, and toys to "break the ice" with the children.

Before traveling to Anchorage, Harvey sought assurances that the agent was not a law enforcement officer or part of any group that would report him for being a pedophile, prosecutors said.

Harvey arrived in Alaska on Aug. 18, 2007, and was arrested. He was carrying a camera bag with lenses and peripherals, a laptop computer and an iPod.

Federal agents said the laptop contained 11 video clips of child pornography and songs celebrating the molestation of young children.

At sentencing Tuesday, U.S. District Court Judge Ralph Beistline called Harvey a "practicing, unrepentant pedophile with a predilection for young girls ... who sunk as low as a human being can."

Acting U.S. attorney Karen Loeffler said such cases get the highest priority.

"We vigorously pursue, prosecute and convict individuals like Mr. Harvey, who prey upon society's most precious and vulnerable resources, its children," she said.

ADVERTISEMENT