United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Tyler Denby, age 39, formerly of Alliance, Nebraska, was sentenced on November 21, 2024, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska for one count of transportation of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. United States District Judge Susan M. Bazis sentenced Denby to 262 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Denby’s release from prison, he will begin a 10-year term of supervised release. He will also be required to register as a sex offender.
On July 30th of 2021, Alliance Police Department received two separate calls for assistance concerning an individual threatening others in the Alliance area. Denby, who was then a Montana resident visiting the town of Alliance, was identified as the suspect, and was contacted at a local gas station. During the encounter, responding officers gained probable cause to search Denby’s vehicle when a marijuana pipe was spotted in his pocket. A stolen firearm was then located on Denby’s person. During the search of his vehicle, a large number of electronic devices, and a pillowcase filled with stained children’s underwear, were discovered by the searching law enforcement officers with the Alliance Police Department and Box Butte County Sheriff’s Office. The items were seized from the vehicle and Denby was arrested for several state crimes.
A search warrant was received for the numerous electronic devices. The devices were later reviewed by the Alliance Police Department. Three microSD cards which had been located in Denby’s wallet contained a substantial amount of child pornography files. While Denby was in custody, he was interviewed by law enforcement, and he admitted to having child pornography on those devices. He also admitted to travelling from Montana to Nebraska with the child pornography on his devices.
The case proceeded to a jury trial in August of 2024, and Denby was convicted of possessing and transporting child pornography.
In pronouncing Denby’s sentence, Judge Bazis told him “There is no question in my mind you are a danger to the public and to children.” Stressing the need of a sentence to protect the public, the Judge also commented “I don’t think you think you did anything.”
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
This case was investigated by the Alliance Police Department.