TERRE HAUTE, Ind. — A convicted sex offender from Terre Haute will spend the next 10 years in federal prison for possessing sexual abuse material depicting babies and toddlers, according to the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana.
Joshua Schatz, 33, pleaded guilty to the charges. He will have 15 years of supervised release when he leaves prison.
According to court documents, in February 2023, Indiana State Police investigated a tip stating Schatz had sent anime and computer-generated images of child sexual abuse material to another person.
Federal prosecutors called the images extremely graphic, depicting toddlers being raped and sexually abused by adult men.
In March 2023, investigators seized Schatz’ phone and discovered hundreds of child sexual abuse images and videos on his devices.
Court documents also revealed that investigators found text messages sent by Schatz in which he described sexual activity he wanted to perform on children he knew.
Schatz was a registered sex offender when he was arrested in 2023.
He was convicted in 2016 for sexually abusing a child under 14 years old in Vigo County.
“There is no greater responsibility for a society than to protect our children from harm—especially the youngest and most vulnerable, unable to speak for themselves,” said Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana.
The FBI, Indiana State Police, and the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department helped in the investigation
