Preston County Man Sentenced for Federal Child Exploitation Offenses

CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA - Steven David Seeger, 46, of Bruceton Mills, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 360 months in federal prison for the coercion and enticement of minors for sex and production of child pornography.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Seeger was communicating with three identified minor girls, and multiple unidentified minor girls online, persuading them to produce sexually explicit images and videos for his personal gratification. Seeger used his vast computer science knowledge to reach minor targets using multiple social media platforms and auto-generated covert phone numbers to engage in a pattern of abuse. Specifically, Seeger viewed himself as the victims' master, treating these minor girls as his sex slaves and directing them to produce child sexual abuse material and to write messages related to his ownership over them on their bodies. Seeger's acts came to light after Texas authorities were alerted that he sent illicit photos of a minor victim as "revenge porn" to her family and friends. Seeger has pending charges in Texas. The child exploitation matter was referred to West Virginia law enforcement once Seeger was identified.

"We are thankful one of his many victims came forward, and grateful to the law enforcement agencies who contributed to bringing this repeat and dangerous sexual offender to justice," stated Acting United States Attorney Randolph J. Bernard. "We will continue to seek significant prison sentences for anyone who targets minors online and solicits sexually motivated images and videos from these minor victims."

Seeger will serve a lifetime on supervised release following his prison sentence and he was ordered to pay $24,975 in restitution to his victims.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberley Crockett prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the West Virginia State Police, the Preston County Sheriff's Office, and the Nacogdoches Police Department (Texas) investigated.

Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.