A Massillon man who worked as a school information technology manager was sentenced to 11 years in prison for possessing child pornography.

Andrew A. Shonk, 37, previously pleaded guilty to receiving and possessing visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

Shonk knowingly received numerous computer files which contained visual depictions of real minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. This took place between 2013 and 2018. Shonk also possessed two USB storage devices that contained child pornography, according to court documents.

Shonk worked as an IT manager at Rootstown and then Hudson schools during the time of his crimes, according to court documents.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Carol M. Skutnik following an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Child Exploitation Task Force, the Canton Police Department and the Jackson Township Police Department. 

Andrew A. Shonk, 36, of Massillon, was charged with receiving and possessing visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

The indictment charges that from March 2013 through February 20, 2018, Shonk knowingly received numerous computer files which contained visual depictions of real minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The indictment also charges that between on or about May 19, 2018 and on or about June 19, 2018, Shonk possessed two USB storage devices that contained child pornography.

If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant's role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation.  In all cases the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Carol M. Skutnik following an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Child Exploitation Task Force, the Canton Police Department and the Jackson Township Police Department. 

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.