Hoosier State Today

Joshua Lee Schatz, 33, of Terre Haute, has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison, followed by 15 years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to possession of child sexual abuse material.

According to court documents, on February 3, 2023, Indiana State Police Troopers received a tip that Joshua Lee Schatz had sent anime and computer-generated images of child sexual abuse material to another individual through text messages. The images were extremely graphic and depicted toddlers being raped and sexually abused by adult men.

On March 10, 2023, investigators executed a search warrant and seized Schatz's phone and electronic devices from his home in Terre Haute. Investigators discovered hundreds of child sexual abuse images and videos on his devices, including those depicting the rape and sexual abuse of babies, toddlers, and other prepubescent children—some appearing to be under six months old.

Investigators also found text messages sent by Schatz describing sexual activity he wanted to perform on children known to him.

At the time of his arrest in 2023, Joshua Schatz was a registered sex offender due to his 2016 conviction for sexually abusing a child under 14 years old in Vigo County.

“There is no greater responsibility for a society than to protect our children from harm—especially the youngest and most vulnerable, unable to speak for themselves,” said Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Repeat offenders like this defendant demonstrate their unwillingness or inability to stop committing these crimes, and a serious term of imprisonment is needed to protect the public and hold the offender accountable. Together with our partners at the FBI, IMPD [Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department], and Indiana’s exemplary ICAC Task Force [Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force], we will continue to make our children safer by ensuring that these dangerous predators are in prison where they belong.”

The FBI, Indiana State Police (ISP), and IMPD investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge James R. Sweeney.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Samantha Spiro for prosecuting this case.

This investigation was conducted by the Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force—a multiagency task force led by ISP that investigates individuals who use the internet to exploit or entice children sexually. Each year, Indiana ICAC investigators evaluate thousands of tips, investigate hundreds of cases, and rescue dozens of children from ongoing sexual abuse.

This case was also part of Project Safe Childhood—a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate apprehend prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet while identifying rescuing victims.