Brian Patterson of Canton will serve 26 years in prison for child pornography

A Canton man found with hundreds of images of child pornography has been sentenced to 26 years in prison.

Brian Patterson, 44, was sentenced Monday by U.S. District Judge J. Philip Calabrese in Cleveland.

Patterson had pleaded guilty in May to multiple federal charges, including sexual exploitation of children, receipt and distribution of visual images of real minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct and possession of child sexual abuse material.

He was also sentenced to ten years of supervised release. He must register as a sex offender.

According to court documents, law enforcement discovered child pornography on his computer and two cellphones. Patterson had 766 images, including 50 images of children under the age of 12. The remaining images were of a child who did not know she was being secretly recorded by a hidden camera.

The FBI Cleveland Division and the Canton Safe Streets Task Force investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph P. Dangelo for the Northern District of Ohio prosecuted the case.

A message seeking comment on the case was sent to Patterson’s attorneys Tuesday afternoon.

According to a sentencing memorandum filed by his attorney, Patterson “accepts responsibility for his offending conduct and is ‘truly remorseful’ for his actions.”

“Mr. Patterson makes no excuses for his behavior. His abusive behavior is not the sum of who he is.”

Patterson is a graduate of Kent State University and had continuous employment, most recently as general manager of a logistics company. He has no previous criminal record.

To report child exploitation, go to cybertipline.orgor call 1-800-843-5678, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Reach Nancy at 330-580-8382 or [email protected]. On X, formerly known as Twitter: @nmolnarTR.