ANDERSON — An Anderson family law attorney was arrested Tuesday at his office after a federal investigation revealed he distributed child pornography via the Internet, according to a U.S. District Attorney.
Samuel Hasler, 50, faces up to 50 years in prison for two counts of distributing child pornography and one count of possessing child pornography.
U.S. District Attorney Timothy Morrison said Hasler is being held at a Community Corrections Center in Indianapolis until trial.
According to charging documents, an agent for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement discovered an online forum being used for sharing and discussing sexual images of minors in October 2008.
“The sexual exploitation of children is a crime that has wide-reaching effects on the most vulnerable members of society,” said Gary Hartwig, an ICE spokesman in Chicago, in a media release. “Simply put, we have an obligation to protect those who cannot protect themselves.”
On Dec. 8, an ICE agent found three images that were sent from someone with the screen name “Hoosierperv,” the documents said. Investigators later learned that Hasler was the owner of the account.
In a February online conversation, Hasler sent an undercover ICE investigator three more images.
“During the course of the resulting chat, ‘Hoosierperv’ discussed among other matters his interest in child pornography and referred to himself as ‘an older pedo,’” the documents said. The investigator added that “pedo” is short for pedophile.
After detectives compared the online photograph to driving records and Hasler’s online blog, they obtained a search warrant for his office in the 1100 block of Meridian Street.
According to the documents, a forensic examiner “found numerous images and videos of child pornography stored in folders” on Hasler’s office external drive.
Hasler admitted to owning and distributing the images and videos, the documents said.
“The complaint does not allege that Hasler produced any of the child pornography,” a media release from Morrison’s office said.
The media release added that the case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a U.S. Justice Department initiative to thwart child exploitation and abuse that was launched in 2006.
A phone number for Hasler’s home and office rang unanswered Wednesday.
According to Hasler’s Facebook and Blogspot profiles, he has practiced family and business law in Anderson for more than 20 years. He touts that his solo practice extends outside of Madison County.
“I am licensed to practice in all Indiana state and federal courts, but I do tend to limit my practice to those counties within a 100 mile radius,” reads his Blogspot profile.
Contact Christina M. Wright, 640-4883, christina.wright@
heraldbulletin.com.
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