An Anchorage resident, Richard Dougherty, has admitted guilt to charges related to child pornography production and possession. The 43-year-old’s offenses included creating images of sexual abuse involving minors known to him.
Court documents reveal that Dougherty began abusing a minor under 16 in his care in 2017. He documented these acts through photos and videos, producing child sexual abuse materials (CSAM).
Between January 2003 and April 2023, Dougherty engaged in possessing, accessing with intent to view, receiving, and distributing CSAM. Some distributed materials depicted him abusing the minor victim.
Dougherty hid a cell phone behind bathroom mirrors at his home, modifying them for secret recording. This setup captured nude images of four victims under 18.
The investigation uncovered over 600 CSAM images in Dougherty’s possession. His sentencing is pending; he faces up to 30 years in prison. A federal judge will decide the sentence based on U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
The announcement came from U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska, Acting Special Agent in Charge Matthew Murphy of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Pacific Northwest operations, and Alaska State Trooper Colonel Maurice Hughes.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations and the Alaska State Troopers. Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Brickey is handling prosecution duties.
