PITTSBURGH, PA — A resident of Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on multiple counts related to the alleged sexual exploitation of minors, according to United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan.
Robert Bookshar, 46, is the sole defendant named in the 20-count indictment. The charges involve allegations of sexual exploitation of two different minors over several months.
The indictment alleges that from around August 2022 until May 2023, Bookshar attempted and succeeded in persuading, inducing, enticing, and coercing two minors to engage in sexually explicit conduct with the intent of creating visual depictions of such conduct.
Furthermore, the indictment claims that Bookshar allegedly attempted and did receive images and videos of minors engaged in sexually explicit content from around September 2021 until February 2023. It is also alleged that Bookshar knowingly possessed images and videos depicting the sexual exploitation of minors on or around June 29, 2023.
If convicted, Bookshar faces a potential maximum sentence of up to 440 years in prison and a fine of up to $5 million, as per the law. However, the actual sentence would be determined based on the severity of the offenses and any previous criminal history of the defendant. Currently, Bookshar is detained pending trial.
Assistant United States Attorney Heidi M. Grogan is representing the government in this case. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Allegheny County Police Department conducted the investigation leading to the indictment.
It’s important to note that an indictment is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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