A Bethel Park, Pennsylvania resident has been sentenced to nine years in federal prison for distributing child sexual abuse material and possessing contraband while awaiting trial. The sentencing of Seth Hollerich, 31, was announced by United States Attorney Troy Rivetti on February 20, 2026.
United States District Judge William S. Stickman IV delivered the sentence on February 19, 2026. Hollerich will also be subject to ten years of supervised release following his incarceration.
Court records show that Hollerich distributed material depicting the sexual exploitation of minors on two occasions in March and September 2021. The materials included images involving infants and toddlers engaged in sexually explicit conduct. In November 2024, while detained before his trial for these offenses, Hollerich was found with homemade shanks intended for use as weapons.
During sentencing, Judge Stickman addressed the impact of the crimes: “hard to fathom the level of depravity it takes to find pleasure in the victimization of little children” and explained to Hollerich that his crimes are not merely “virtual” crimes, but revictimized real human beings who had already endured being victims of sexual abuse.
Assistant United States Attorneys Heidi M. Grogan and Kelly M. Locher prosecuted the case.
U.S. Attorney Rivetti acknowledged the efforts of the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Marshals Service, and Butler County Prison in their investigation leading to this prosecution.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative started by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to address child sexual exploitation and abuse. The program brings together federal, state, and local resources to investigate and prosecute offenders and rescue victims. Additional information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at www.justice.gov/psc.
