The sentencing of a Scranton man in Greene County district court July 8 was the last step in the prosecution of a case of sex abuse and child pornography. Sentencing was done in Southern District of Iowa, U.S. District Court in May.
Anthony Grife, 23, of Scranton was sentenced May 13 to 15 years in federal prison on a charge of sexual exploitation of a child/production of child pornography. After his release from prison he will be supervised for the remainder of his life.
According to an affidavit filed in federal court, the investigation began last October when a complainant reported to the Greene County sheriff’s office that she had seen sexually explicit photos of Grife and a 3-year-old female on his cellular phone.
A sheriff deputy’s investigation verified the photos the complainant had seen. In executing a search warrant for the phone and Grife’s residence, deputies seized two additional cellular phones and a computer.
During an interview with sheriff’s deputy Shane Allen, Grife admitted to taking the photographs and to committing sex acts on the child. He also admitted to sending the photos to another male, and receiving photos back from the male.
According to the affidavit, Grife admitted the sex acts had begun in September of 2014, a few days before the victim’s second birthday. The affidavit lists February 2015 as the last event.
Grife was arrested on Greene County warrants and charged with sex abuse- second degree (three counts), lascivious actds with a minor, lascivious acts with a child- fondle or touch, sexual exploitation of a minor- cause to engage in act, sexual exploitation of a minor- promote film. The charges were filed Oct. 25.
The case in U.S. District Court was filed Oct. 30. In seeking the federal arrest warrant, an FBI special agent alleged that Grife had knowingly used, persuaded, induced, enticed or coerced a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for producing a visual depiction that would be transmitted using any means or facility of interstate or foreign commerce, and that Grife violated 18 U.S.C. § 2251(a).
