Web Desk
A 63-year-old Alvin resident, Robert Earl Cochran Jr., has been sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for crimes involving child sexual abuse materials (CSAM).
The sentencing took place on March 12 at the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas.
Cochran, a registered sex offender, was previously convicted of the aggravated sexual assault of a 3-year-old child.
The investigation was led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
It revealed that Cochran distributed, received, and possessed CSAM involving children aged 3 to 12 between February 24, 2015, and July 16, 2019.
Cochran pleaded guilty on December 17, 2024. A future court hearing will determine the amount he must pay in restitution, according to ICE.
Authorities found that Cochran began viewing child pornography in 2015, shortly after his release from prison. He admitted to trading these materials actively between 2015 and 2016.
Investigators seized three cellphones from Cochran during his arrest. These devices contained nine images and 54 obscene materials featuring children.
In addition to his prison term, Cochran will face 10 years of supervised release, with strict conditions preventing him from accessing the internet or having contact with children.
He remains in custody, awaiting transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Luis Batarse.
For more updates on ICE’s efforts against child exploitation in Southeast Texas, the public is encouraged to follow their official social media accounts.
