3 men get federal terms on sex charges

Three men prosecuted on charges related to child sexual exploitation were given federal prison sentences Thursday.

The men were prosecuted as part of a nationwide initiative called Project Safe Childhood that is designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's office.

Jonathon David Sharp, 26, St. George, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison after pleading guilty in August to possession of child pornography. Sharp admitted possessing more than 600 images of child pornography on his computer. U.S. District Judge Paul Cassell issued the minimum mandatory sentence.

Luke Harrison Knudson, 24, Orem, was sentenced to 36 months in federal prison after pleading guilty in May to using interstate facilities to transmit information about a minor. The minor was, in fact, an undercover officer posing as a 13-year-old girl from whom he solicited a sex ac. He was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Tena Campbell.

Roger Greer, 42, Salt Lake City, was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession of child pornography after more than 600 still and video images were found on computer disks or his computer.

The pornography came to law enforcement's attention during the execution of a search warrant in a separate criminal securities fraud investigation conducted by the FBI.

"We take threats against children in Utah very seriously and will continue to work with our law enforcement partners around the state to aggressively investigate and prosecute this criminal conduct in federal court," said U.S. Attorney for Utah Brett L. Tolman.

More information about Project Safe Childhood is available at www.projectsafechildhood.gov.