Former Ellwood City Resident Pleads Guilty to Charges Related to the Sexual Exploitation of a Minor

A former resident of Ellwood City pleaded guilty in federal court to charges related to the sexual exploitation of a minor, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced on November 7th.

Shayne Clapper, 30, pleaded guilty to five counts before United States District Judge William S. Stickman.

In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that in January 2023 through February 2023, Clapper initiated a sexual relationship with a minor known to him. Clapper provided the minor with a cell phone that he used to communicate with the minor. Clapper requested and received nude images from the minor. Clapper also induced the minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a sexually explicit video. Law enforcement analyzed Clapper’s cellular telephone and discovered the child sexual abuse images.

Judge Stickman scheduled sentencing for March 12, 2025 at 1:30 pm. The law provides for a total sentence of up to life in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history of the defendant.

Pending sentencing, the defendant remains detained.

Assistant United States Attorney Heidi M. Grogan is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Ellwood City Police Department conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Clapper.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals, who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.