A man who previously worked as a victim services attorney in Hartford Superior Court was sentenced this week to nine years in prison for sharing child pornography on a social messaging app while working at the courthouse.
Robert Eccleston, 58, was sentenced Monday to a total of 108 months in federal prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release, for distributing images and videos showing the sexual abuse of children, according to court documents and a US release. Connecticut District Attorney’s Office.
In 2020, the FBI began monitoring several public groups on the social media app Kik and flagged photos and videos posted by someone with the usernames “hartfordctguy” and “Mowgli100” that showed that toddlers and prepubescent children were being sexually abused, records show.
In August and September 2020, Eccleston used accounts linked to those usernames to share numerous pornographic images and videos of young children and pre-pubescent children in various Kik groups, according to authorities. He also requested that people who wanted to join groups he was an administrator send him videos of child sexual abuse in order to let them into the groups, records show. He was arrested on December 11, 2020.
At the time Eccleston was sending these photos and videos and managing these accounts, he was working as a victim services advocate at Broad Street Superior Court in Hartford.
These advocates work directly with crime victims to help protect their rights as their case, or the case of a loved one, moves through the court system. They advocate for victims, sit with them during hearings and during trials and are responsible for making the process of seeking justice as comfortable, fair and just for them as possible.
“This case is a harsh reminder that the sexual exploitation of children occurs in every segment of our community,” Vanessa Roberts-Avery, the U.S. Attorney for Connecticut, said in a statement.
Breaking news
As it happens
Get the latest updates on the Coronavirus and other breaking news events happening in Connecticut
“Based on the position that this defendant maintained while engaging in such reprehensible conduct, this case represents an enormous breach of trust on several levels,” Roberts-Avery said. “We thank the FBI and other law enforcement partners for investigating and eliminating these crimes wherever they exist, and we also thank the dedicated professionals at the Connecticut State Attorney’s Office of Victim Services for their assistance and continued service. to victims throughout Connecticut.”
Eccleston has been in custody since his arrest. and in January 2022 pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography. A judge ordered him to pay a total of $25,000 to four victims of his crime, $35,000 to the Child Pornography Victims Reserve, $5,000 to the Domestic Trafficking Victims Fund and a $30,000 fine, according to the US Attorney.
The investigation into Eccleston’s crimes was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Avon Police Department. His case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Angel M. Krull.
“This case shines a light on why, in law enforcement, we exhaust every means available to protect our most vulnerable population,” said David Sundberg, FBI special agent in charge of Eccleston’s case. “Sex crimes against children will always be a priority for the FBI.”
Eccleston’s prosecution was part of the US Department of Justice’s Safe Childhood Initiative, which aims to protect children from sexual abuse and exploitation.
To report cases of child exploitation, visit www.cybertipline.com.
