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A Pasadena repeat offender admitted to producing child sexual abuse material and shared it online.
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He committed a similar crime a decade ago, and added to the punishment for his new charges, might receive at least 25 years prison sentence and maybe up to 50.
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The case is part of the Project Safe Childhood’s effort to rescue abuse victims and make offenders face justice.
Patrick Daniel McKernan, 45, from Pasadena, Maryland, just admitted in federal court that he sexually exploited a child.
He committed this act twice, in November 2023, took explicit images of a minor, and distributed them online using a hidden messaging dark web app.
Details of the Guilty Plea
McKernan appeared before a federal judge and confessed that he committed the heinous crimes of which he was charged. US Attorney Kelly O. Hayes, alongside FBI Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul and Anne Arundel County Police Chief Amal E. Awad, announced the guilty plea.
According to court documents, McKernan coerced a minor child into engaging in sexually explicit conduct. He did so because he wanted to create visual records of the abuse.
What Led to McKernan’s Arrest
Investigators found the abuse images McKernan created on the dark web, in a place designed for anonymity. In November 2023, McKernan produced explicit images of the child and distributed them online. Law enforcement discovered the material on the dark web, within a group messaging app dedicated to sharing child abuse material that operated on the Tor Network.
The dark web’s role in facilitating these crimes is why international cooperation is so critical. The UK is arresting 1,000 suspected paedophiles each month as part of the same global effort to identify victims and shut down networks that span continents.
But this was not the first time McKernan would face the law for such a crime. The Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County convicted him back in 2016 for possessing child sexual abuse material. The initial conviction adds more weight to his potential punishment this time.
Possible Prison Sentencing for Repeat Offense
Following McKernan’s guilty plea, he might be receiving a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years according to Federal laws. There’s also the possibility that Judge Matthew J. Maddox will sentence him to 50 years in federal prison in his next hearing, coming up on Friday, May 22.
The Assistant US Attorney Colleen Elizabeth McGuinn is handling the prosecution. The possible sentencing range shows how serious what McKernan did is. Producing child abuse material is no small offense, plus he’s done it before and was even convicted for it.
Keeping Children Safe from Predators
This prosecution is part of a greater national effort, which birthed Project Safe Childhood. The Department of Justice established this program in May 2006 to put a stop to the growing trend of exploiting and abusing children sexually. Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section and United States Attorney’s Offices are in charge of the initiative.
The program brings together resources from all levels, federal, state, and local government, to rescue victims and punish offenders. For this case, the FBI and Anne Arundel County Police worked together to investigate it. Their joint effort is proof that teamwork helps a lot, and they need more of it to tear down these online child sexual predators.
Officers advise that parents should use the resources at justice.gov/psc to learn as much as they can about internet safety. This will equip them to recognize and avoid online dangers.
The Impact of this Case and Next Steps
The case underscores the consequences for those who harm children. US Attorney Hayes commended the effort the FBI and local police put in during the investigation. Their help is the reason McKernan now faces justice for his crimes.
Many look forward to McKernan’s sentencing. Throwing him behind bars might help the victim feel a bit of closure. But honestly, bouncing back from a trauma that heavy? Not easy at all.
Cops and investigators are out here trying to shut down child sexual abuse rings, but they’re not superheroes. They need backup. If you know anything, don’t keep quiet; contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and report it.
