Region man given 24 years for having minors send sex abuse images, feds say

Bob Kasarda

SOUTH BEND — A 31-year-old Michigan City man was sentenced in federal court to 24 years behind bars after pleading guilty to persuading minors he met online to send images of child sexual abuse materials, officials said.

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The boy’s mother reportedly told the officials the boy was bruised while sitting in a bouncy chair and the injury around the eyes is a result of the way the child sleeps, police said.

Opediah Barnett was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty after pleading guilty to two counts of production of child pornography, United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson said.

Barnett was sentenced to 292 months in prison followed by 10 years of supervised release, Johnson said. He was also ordered to pay $6,000 in restitution.

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It was at this point Shuler is accused of aiming toward a police officer, who avoided being struck.

“According to documents in the case, in July of 2021 and January of 2022, Barnett persuaded two separate minors he met online to send him images of child sexual abuse material,” Johnson said. “Barnett also traveled out of state in an attempt to meet with one of the minors.”

The case was investigated by the United States Department of Homeland Security with the assistance of the Indiana State Police; and police in Spokane County, Washington and Raleigh County, West Virginia.