HARRISBURG, PA — A Northampton County man has been sentenced to what effectively amounts to a life term behind bars after a jury convicted him of possessing child sexual abuse material, Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday announced.
Northampton County Judge Brian Panella sentenced 67-year-old Ricky Raisner to 110 to 500 years in state prison following his July conviction on more than 50 felony counts, all secured at trial by the Office of Attorney General.
During sentencing, Panella cited the extremely young ages of the children depicted in the images presented to jurors, as well as the graphic and egregious nature of the acts involved, according to prosecutors.
Sunday said the length of the sentence reflects the severity of the crime and the lasting harm inflicted on children through the possession and circulation of such material. He said the hope is that the punishment sends a clear warning that possessing child sexual abuse material constitutes exploitation and abuse and will be treated accordingly by the courts. Sunday added that the Attorney General’s Child Predator Section continues to identify individuals across Pennsylvania who view, collect, and share such material, and that those investigations will continue.
The case began after investigators with the Child Predator Section responded to a tip and traced an internet protocol address to Raisner’s home in Mount Bethel. Agents later executed a search warrant at the residence, seizing electronic devices that authorities said contained child sexual abuse material.
The prosecution was handled by Senior Deputy Attorney General Michelle Laucella.
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