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SALT LAKE CITY — A former Boy Scout leader and hospital employee will go to prison for collecting and making child pornography.
Third District Judge Robin Reese on Monday sentenced Shawn Thomas Whiting, 34, to a one- to-15-year prison term on four second-degree felony counts of sexual exploitation of a minor. Whiting pleaded guilty to the charges in April.
He originally faced a total of 20 counts of the same charge, but the 16 additional counts were dismissed in exchange for the man's plea. Reese ordered the man to pay for the cost of counseling for his victims.
The Utah Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force was conducting an investigation last year when it discovered Whiting was advertising child pornography files to share. Agents found hundreds of explicit images of young boys at his Taylorsville home and then worked with members of the Idaho ICAC Task Force to identify a victim living in Idaho.
This is a sad reminder that people who collect child pornography often abuse children and manufacture and distribute images of their own crimes.
–Paul G. Amann
Until he was arrested last November, Whiting worked for Intermountain Health Care as a registrar at LDS Hospital and Alta View Hospital and had previously served as a Boy Scout leader.
"This is a sad reminder that people who collect child pornography often abuse children and manufacture and distribute images of their own crimes," said assistant attorney general Paul G. Amann. "However, this case is also a great example of how law enforcement agencies from different states can work together to bring justice to a sex offender."
