COLUMBUS, Ohio – A previously convicted sex offender who resides in Vinton County was indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly committing child pornography and obscenity crimes that involve the use of computer-generated content, according to Acting United States Attorney Kelly A. Norris, Southern District of Ohio.
Cody L. Prater, 27, of McArthur, Ohio, is charged with receiving and possessing child pornography and obscene visual representations of child sexual abuse. He is also charged with transporting obscene matters.
According to the indictment, between August 2023 and July 2024, Prater allegedly committed numerous child pornography and obscenity crimes. He also allegedly attempted to hide his various crimes by using a computer operating system that leaves no traces of internet activity on the digital devices it is connected too.
Prater allegedly received child pornography depicting children as young as infants and toddlers that included sadistic and masochistic abuse.
It is also alleged that Prater received digital files of computer-generated minors engaged in bestiality and sex acts with adults and subjected to sadistic and masochistic abuse. Prater also allegedly possessed online visual depictions of child mutilation and torture.
If convicted as charged, Prater could face up to 40 years in prison.
Kelly A. Norris, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jared Murphey, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit; announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorneys Emily Czerniejewski and Tyler Aagard are representing the United States in this case.
An indictment merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
