Man pleads guilty in Pa. to exploiting children

PITTSBURGH (AP) — A California man described by authorities as a “security officer” of an online child pornography ring has pleaded guilty to exploiting children.

Stephen Sims, of San Leandro, Calif., entered the plea in federal court Tuesday. In all, eight men were charged last year in connection with the site.

Authorities say Sims vetted users on the site which required would-be members to share explicit pictures of children to show they weren’t in law enforcement and that they could provide such images.

Federal officials say the case was the first prosecution of a child exploitation enterprise that makes use of a social networking site under a federal law created by the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006.

Sims faces at least 20 years in prison when he is sentenced Feb. 4.