Federal indictment unsealed against Boardman man in child pornography case

Gary Hensperger

A federal judge has unsealed an indictment charging a 42-year-old Boardman man with receiving and distributing child pornography and possession of child pornography.

Gary Hensperger pleaded not guilty to the charges during an arraignment Wednesday.

The unsealing of the indictment follows Hensperger's arrest on March 25 after a raid at his Boardman home on the 1800 block of Mathews Road. At that time, he was booked on state charges of pandering obscenity involving a minor, illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material, and possessing criminal tools. The Mahoning County Sheriff's Office and the FBI were involved in the March raid.

According to the federal indictment, Hensperger is accused of receiving and distributing computer files containing visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. He is also charged with possessing a laptop containing child pornography, with at least one image involving a minor under 12 years of age.

Hensperger waived his right to a detention hearing and was turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending further proceedings.