SALT LAKE CITY — A man who expressed interest in adopting a baby boy so he could sexually molest him is going to prison for possession of child pornography.
A U.S. District Court judge sentenced Sydney Rhees, 29, to 70 months in federal prison after the Salt Lake City man pleaded guilty earlier this year. Rhees also must 300 months of supervised release after his prison term ends.
Rhees, of Salt Lake City, was arrested in February after a concerned citizen contacted the Salt Lake Unified Police Department to report that while he was at Rhees' home, Rhees showed him videos and still images depicting children and infants being sexually abused by adult males. According to court documents, Rhees also said he wanted to in adopt a young baby boy and raise the child to sexually molest him. Rhees described that to the concerned citizen as utopia.
An FBI agent posing as the citizen sent Rhees a text message. Subsequent text messages between the agent and Rhees corroborated details provided by the citizen regarding Rhees' involvement in child pornography. Using a warrant, agents searched Rhees' home and found child pornography.
"This case has several disturbing aspects, including the nature of the child pornography found in Rhees' possession, his prior contact with adoption and foster care agencies, and his history of employment working with children," said U.S. Attorney Carlie Christensen. Because of the danger which he posed to children, she said, the sentence is an appropriate resolution and the best way to ensure he does not re-offend.
— Dennis Romboy