Watching young girls better than going to strip club, child porn producer tells officials

Wilfrido Baldera, 39, sentenced to 30 years in prison for child porn production

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A man convicted of producing child pornography has been sentenced to 30 years in federal prison.

Court documents show the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office began investigating possible child exploitation in March 2016 after finding the Internet Protocol address at the home of Wilfrido C. Baldera, 39, had been a sharer of child pornography.

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A detective who connected to Baldera's computer said he discovered Baldera was hosting more than 4,600 files of suspected child porn.

A search warrant was executed at Baldera's residence on Nov. 2. 

The Department of Justice said during an interview, Baldera acknowledged viewing child pornography on his computer and downloading movies, as well as going to Walmart to look at girls between the ages of 8 and 16 who "put it out there" for sexual arousal before going home to his wife. The DOJ said he described it as being better than going to a strip club.

Officials said a forensic review of the electronic devices seized from Baldera's residence showed video and photographs Baldera had produced in Clearwater Beach on June 29, 2015, depicting the rape of a 10-year-old girl.

At the time of the production, Baldera and his family were vacationing with the victim in Tampa and Clearwater, the DOJ said.

"This predator thought he could hide behind online technology and harm children," special agent in charge of Tampa HSI James C. Spero said. "Our HSI special agents worked hard with our local law enforcement partners to ensure he will be held accountable for his crimes."

Baldera pleaded guilty to producing child pornography on Sept. 5. He is sentenced to a lifetime term of supervised release upon completion of his 30-year prison sentence.


About the Author:

Dawn Jorgenson, Graham Media Group Branded Content Managing Editor, began working with the group in April 2013. She graduated from Texas State University with a degree in electronic media.