Man gets 30 years in child-porn case

Staff report

pittsburgh

A New Castle man has been sentenced to 30 years in prison on conviction of receiving and possessing child pornography.

Kelly Hardy, 40, of Park Avenue, was arrested in April 2009.

An investigation into a child-porn case in Mississippi revealed the suspect in that case had Internet conversations with Hardy about sexually exploiting children, and Hardy had sent him child pornography, said the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of Pennsylvania, which prosecuted the case in federal court in Pittsburgh.

Federal agents searched Hardy’s residence April 16 and found electronic- data-storage devices and 17 computers. An analysis of one hard drive showed thousands of images of children’s being abused, including infants and toddlers’ being raped by adult men, a court document says.

The investigation revealed that Hardy sexually abused a minor over several years and had pursued others, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

He had expressed a desire to break into homes to rape and kill young girls, the office said.

Hardy pleaded guilty and was sentenced Monday.

His prison term will be followed by a life term of supervised release and restitution.