By: Matt Scher, matts@977thebolt.com
Sioux City, IA – A Sioux City man is awaiting sentencing after a guilty plea to one count of possession of child pornography.
57-year-old Scott Devries of Hardy pled guilty to the charge on Monday, April 20 in a Sioux City federal courtroom.
At the plea hearing, Devries admitted that between January 2021 and August 2022, he possessed and received visual depictions of child pornography, which included prepubescent minors or a minor under the age of 12. It was revealed that while executing a search warrant, law enforcement discovered 20 electronic devices that contained child sexual abuse material. Forensic analysis of the devices found almost one million images of child pornography, some of which involved material that portrayed sadistic or masochistic conduct as well as infants and toddlers.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Devries remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. He faces a possible maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and at least five years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case was investigated by Hancock County Sheriff’s Office, Charles City Police Department, and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.