LOGAN — A 26-year-old Logan man already convicted of possessing child pornography has been sentenced to prison for downloading child sexual abuse material again. Tyler James Blessing apologized, blaming his actions on depression and his “rough childhood.”
Blessing was sentenced June 30 in Logan’s 1st District Court. He previously accepted a plea deal, pleading guilty to three counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, a second-degree felony.
According to prosecutors, Adult Probation and Parole agents were conducting “pre-Halloween” checks last fall, when they visited Blessing’s trailer home in south Logan. He reportedly was on felony probation out of Texas for possession of child sexual abuse material.
During the agent’s visit, they noticed a laptop computer appeared to be concealed in a couch. When they opened it, several images of suspected child pornography were located in the downloads folder.
Agents obtained a warrant to seize the laptop. A detective with the Internet Crimes Against Children task force searched the computer and located more than 10 images of child sexual abuse material. The pictures were of kids between 4 and 12-years-old, engaged in lude sexual acts.
Blessing was booked into the Cache County Jail Nov. 4, where he has been held without bail.
During Monday’s sentencing, Blessing said he took “full responsibility” for his actions and “never meant to harm anyone.” He asked for jail time instead of prison, explaining how depression had left him feeling “numb”
Judge Angela Fonnesbeck called Blessing “deceptive and manipulative,” noting how there are a lot of people with difficult childhoods who don’t victimize children. She ordered him to serve one-to-15-years in the Utah State Correctional Facility, recommending credit for the 238 days already served in jail.