Boardman Residents Warned as Tri-Cities Man Receives Five-Year Sentence for Child Exploitation Crimes

A recent federal sentencing out of the Tri-Cities serves as a stark reminder for our own community in Boardman about the pervasive threat of online child exploitation. A Pasco man, 34-year-old Michael Thompson, has been sentenced to five years in federal prison followed by ten years of supervised release for possession and distribution of child pornography.

The investigation, led by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Southeast Regional Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, began after agents traced the sharing of illicit files to Thompson’s home. A subsequent search of his electronic devices uncovered a significant cache of illegal material.

“While this case originated in Pasco, the digital nature of these crimes knows no county line,” said Morrow County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson, Deputy Carla Reyes. “It underscores the critical need for vigilance here at home. We urge parents and guardians in Boardman to have open conversations about online safety and to monitor their children’s digital activity.”

U.S. District Judge Salvador Mendoza, who handed down the sentence in the Richland federal courthouse, emphasized the lasting damage such crimes inflict on vulnerable victims. Upon his release, Thompson will be required to register as a sex offender.

Local authorities encourage anyone with information about the online exploitation of children to contact the Morrow County Sheriff’s Office or to make an anonymous report to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678.