Vancouver man sentenced to three years for attempted child molestation

Joseph T. Schesso, 35, of Vancouver was sentenced Nov. 28 in Clark County Superior Court to more than three years in state prison after pleading guilty to first-degree attempted child molestation, according to a Vancouver police news release.

The sentence, imposed by Judge Dan Stahnke, concluded a Vancouver police investigation launched in fall 2009 after a tip from police in Germany about images of children being sexually exploited coming from an Internet address linked to Schesso’s Fruit Valley home, according to The Columbian’s archives.

Detectives served a search warrant at Schesso’s home in June 2010 and seized numerous pieces of digital evidence. Among the content, Vancouver police and Clark County sheriff’s detectives and computer forensic examiners found several images that depicted Schesso sexually abusing a minor girl who had once visited his home, the news release stated.

When he completes his 40-month prison sentence, Schesso will be required to register as a sex offender. He will also be subject to lifetime supervision by the Washington State Department of Corrections.

Schesso has also been charged with production, distribution, receipt and possession of child pornography in U.S. District Court, according to court documents. His trial last year was delayed after the prosecution appealed a judge’s opinion on suppression of evidence related to the case. A new trial date has not been scheduled, said Emily Langlie, a U.S. District Court spokeswoman.