Retired Deputy From Wyoming Gets Federal Prison for Child Porn

A 41-year-old Sheridan man has been sentenced to 41 months in federal prison for child pornography, Acting U.S. Attorney Nicholas Vassallo announced Monday.

Christopher Mark Haenel was indicted in May on one count of distribution of child pornography and one count of access with intent to view child pornography.

He took a plea deal and pleaded guilty to access with intent to view child pornography, the lesser of the two charges, on Aug. 17.

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According to the indictment, from on or about Sept. 6, 2021, through and including on or about Sept. 11, 2021, Haenel knowingly distributed child pornography using the internet and cell phone networks.

The indictment also alleges that from on or about Aug. 8, 2020, through and including on or about Feb. 16, 2022, Haenel did knowingly access with intent to view material containing images of child pornography that involved prepubescent minors.

Vassallo says Haenel, a retired Adams County, Colorado sheriff’s deputy, came to the attention of law enforcement when Kik, a social media platform, reported that he was sharing child pornography using its service.

In addition to the 41-month sentence, Haenel was also ordered to pay a $5,000 special assessment pursuant to the Victims of Sex Trafficking Act of 2015; a $500 special assessment and mandatory restitution of at least $3,000 per requesting victim pursuant to the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act of 2018; and a $100 special assessment.

Haenel will be subject to five years of supervised release once he's released from prison.