Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Carlos E. Mendoza has sentenced Richard A. Kirkendall (34, Oviedo) to 24 years in federal prison for using the internet to receive and possess images and videos depicting the sexual abuse and torture of children. Kirkendall was also ordered to serve a 10-year term of supervised release and to register as a sex offender. Kirkendall had pleaded guilty on September 23, 2021.
According to court documents, Kirkendall used a particular peer-to-peer file sharing software to download child sexual abuse materials over the internet. In that process, he distributed child-pornographic videos to an undercover FBI agent. The videos distributed by Kirkendall depicted toddler-aged children being sexually abused and sodomized.
On May 10, 2021, federal agents executed a search warrant at Kirkendall’s residence and seized three cellphones belonging to Kirkendall. Forensic analyses of these devices revealed that they contained approximately 321 images and 103 videos depicting the sadistic sexual abuse of children, including material depicting infants and very young children being raped and sodomized.
The analyses also showed email communications dating back to 2012 through which Kirkendall traded child sexual abuse materials with another person over the internet. In the emails, Kirkendall stated, among other things, that he was interested in extremely violent child sexual abuse images and videos and wanted to see “blood.” Kirkendall also explained in detail how the other user could sexually assault a 3-year-old child that the user had access to through the use of deception.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ilianys Rivera.
This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.