Two Kansas men sentenced for sexual exploitation of a minor in separate criminal cases

TOPEKA, KAN. - Two Kansas men received prison sentences following separate Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigations into reports of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

According to court documents, Douglas Harpster, 53, of Salina pleaded guilty to one count of sexual exploitation of a minor - possession of child sexual abuse material.

Harpster was sentenced to 78 months in prison and a ten-year term of supervised release.

In October of 2022, the FBI received a tip that a computer IP address with a geolocation in Salina was downloading known CSAM files using an Internet files haring platform. The user was identified as Harpster. FBI agents executed a search warrant on Harpster's home and seized multiple electronic devices and electronic storage devices. A review confirmed his files contained over 1,500 thumbnails or cached images depicting minors, including those under the age of 12, engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

In a separate case, according to court documents, Eric Holloway, 53, of Clay Center pleaded guilty to one count of sexual exploitation of a minor - possession of child sexual abuse material, with statutory sentencing enhancement as the defendant has a prior conviction for a crime of sexual violence.

Holloway was sentenced to 135 months in prison and a lifetime term of supervised release.

"Child sexual abuse material is a plague on our communities. If you possess, create, and/or distribute these perverse images you should expect to be prosecuted," said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigated the cases.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara Walton prosecuted the cases.

Project Safe Childhood

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.

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