A Midwest City man who distributed child pornography to an undercover investigator has been sentenced for his convictions of possession and distribution of child pornography and violating the Oklahoma Computer Crimes Act.
Gerald Prindle, 39, was arrested in May after sharing child pornography files on the internet. An undercover agent with the Internet Crimes against Children (ICAC) task force made contact with Prindle, who began sharing files containing images and videos of child pornography with him.
OSBI agents and Midwest City police executed a search warrant at Prindle's home, where they discovered a cell phone containing sexually explicit images and videos of children. Officers arrested the man, and he was subsequently charged with four counts of distributing child pornography, one count of possession of child pornography, and one count of violation of the Oklahoma Computer Crimes Act.
Last week, Prindle pleaded guilty to one count each of distribution and possession of child pornography and to using a computer to violate state law.
Oklahoma County District Judge Kevin McCray sentenced the convicted man to 15 years for the child pornography counts, with 7 years to be served in prison and 8 years of probation. For violating the Oklahoma Computer Crimes Act, he was sentenced to 5 years in prison with credit for time served. The sentences are to run concurrently.
Prindle will be required to register as a sex offender under the Oklahoma Sex Offender Registration Act. Distribution and possession of child pornography are Level 1 sex offenses. This means anyone convicted must register as a sex offender for a period of 15 years, providing annual address verification to law enforcement.
Learn more about Oklahoma Sex Offender registration here.
