Not long after a Juneau man left prison \u2014 where he served more than 20 years for the sexual abuse of a minor \u2014 he\u2019s headed back again. This time, it\u2019s for life.<\/p>\n
Thomas Schopp, 52, pleaded guilty in February to creating child pornography while on parole, according to a plea agreement drafted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Reardon of Anchorage.<\/p>\n
In August 2014, Schopp met a juvenile in Juneau whom he went on to commit sexual acts with while recording those acts on his cellphone, according to the plea deal Schopp signed. Schopp also provided that minor with gifts over the course of several months, including a cellphone, and traveled with her to Reno, Nevada, where Schopp was arrested. While in custody, Reardon said Schopp tried to have someone destroy his personal devices containing evidence of child pornography.<\/p>\n
Schopp\u2019s arrest was part of an FBI investigation by offices in Anchorage, Juneau and Reno, Nevada.<\/p>\n
Schopp\u2019s prior offenses include a 1988 conviction for six counts of sexual assault and a second conviction in 1993 for sexual abuse of a minor and attempted sexual abuse. In total, nine children in Schopp\u2019s care were molested. Schopp was sentenced to five years in prison for his first conviction and 26 years for the last offense. He was released early from his sentence, sometime in 2014, Reardon said.<\/p>\n
Because Schopp is a two-time offender, the minimum prison sentence he could have received for creating child pornography was 35 years, which is what Schopp\u2019s attorney Jamie McGrady argued for during Monday\u2019s sentencing.<\/p>\n
Reardon said although the plea deal did not promise Schopp a shorter sentence, it was possible the judge could have looked favorably upon Schopp for accepting blame for his crime by pleading guilty ahead of a trial, sparring the victim and her family a lengthy ordeal in court.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe evidence in this case was very strong,\u201d Reardon said in a phone interview Tuesday. \u201cHe had taken video of his victim and there were attempts to destroy the evidence. I think (Schopp) realized if he went to trial, he would be convicted.\u201d<\/p>\n
U.S. District Judge Timothy M. Burgess decided, regardless of Schopp\u2019s willingness to plead guilty, that a life in prison was necessary.<\/p>\n
\u201c[Y]ou go to jail for 26 years and you get out and here we are again,\u201d Burgess said on Monday according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney for the District of Alaska\u2019s office. \u201cI don\u2019t think there is anything I can do to deter you. Nothing. … the only way I can [protect the public] is to sentence you to life.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 Contact reporter Paula Ann Solis at 523-2272 or paula.solis@juneauempire.com.<\/p>\n
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