A Centre County was sentenced on Friday to 30 years in federal prison for producing child pornography and coercing a minor to engage in sexual activity.
Louis B. Wetzel, 41, of Walker Township, was also ordered by U.S. District Judge Matthew Brann to serve 10 years of supervised release following his confinement. Wetzel must register as a sex offender and pay $50,000 in restitution.
Brann recommended that Wetzel serve his sentence at Allenwood federal prison in Union County.
Wetzel pleaded guilty in January to production of child pornography and enticement of a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity following his arrest in December 2023.
A search of Wetzel’s home by state police as part of an ongoing investigation by the FBI’s Williamsport office found he had two mobile devices with “numerous” images and videos depicting child sexual abuse of primarily girls between the ages of approximately 10 and 17, according to an affidavit of probable cause. He admitted to investigators at the time to viewing and trading child pornography for one-and-a-half to two years.
A forensic search of his digital devices uncovered a conversation between Wetzel and a 12-year-old whom he coerced to produce pornography and provide it to him, according to prosecutors. Wetzel also claimed during online chats to have the ability to offer children for sale to other adults for sexual acts.
Wetzel had sought a sentence of 15 years. His attorney, G. Scott Gardner, wrote in a sentencing memorandum that the divorced father of three had no prior criminal history, is in good health, has no mental health or substance abuse issues, always maintained gainful employment and was described by his ex-wife as a “good father.”
“While this crime was extremely serious and should be dealt with as such, Defendant should not receive a sentence near the maximum as the pre-sentence report suggests,” Gardner wrote. “Such sentences are reserved for career offenders.”
