RENO, Nev. – A Reno man pleaded guilty today in federal court to possessing thousands of child pornography images and hundreds of videos, including prepubescent minors involved in sexually explicit conduct and sadistic and masochistic conduct, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada.

Daren W. Phillips, 50, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography before United States District Judge Miranda Du. A sentencing hearing has been set for September 9, 2019.

Phillips admitted that, from 2016 to April 2018, he possessed 4,753 images and 538 videos of child pornography on his laptop computer. Some of the sexually explicit images and videos depicted sadistic and masochistic conduct. Other images and videos depicted prepubescent minors involved in sexually explicit conduct. Phillips admitted he possessed some of the child pornography on his laptop prior to his move from the Savannah, Georgia area to the Reno, Nevada area, and that he had accessed child pornography in Nevada as recently as April 9, 2018.

If the Court accepts the plea agreement, Phillips faces 63 months’ imprisonment and not less than 20 years and up to lifetime supervised release. In addition, under the Sex Offender Registration Notification Act (SORNA), Phillips will be required to register as a sex offender.

The case was investigated by the Northern Nevada Child Exploitation Task Force, the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, and the Nevada Attorney General’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney James Keller is prosecuting the case.

This case was 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 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, 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 and for information about internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

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