After a one-day bench trial, Leonard Shove, a resident of Las Vegas, was found guilty on charges related to child pornography. On Monday, he was convicted for one count of receipt and one count of possession of child pornography. These charges carry a minimum sentence of 15 years in federal custody.
Court documents revealed that on June 12, 2023, Shove was discovered with a cell phone containing images and videos classified as child pornography. At the time, he was under federal supervised release. A search by the U.S. Probation Office led to the discovery of the device in his backpack, which was then handed over to the FBI for further investigation.
The bench trial took place on June 16, 2025, presided over by United States District Judge Cristina D. Silva. The conviction adds to Shove’s history of similar offenses involving child pornography.
Shove’s sentencing is scheduled for September 22, 2025. Due to his prior convictions and current charges, he faces a potential prison term ranging from a mandatory minimum of 15 years to a maximum of 40 years. The final sentence will be determined by a federal district court judge after considering various guidelines and statutory factors.
United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada and Acting Special Agent in Charge Rafik Mattar for the FBI Las Vegas Division announced the verdict. The case involved an investigation by the FBI with support from the U.S. Probation Office and prosecution by Assistant United States Attorneys Jean Ripley and Daniel Schiess. Trial Attorney Supriya Prasad initially indicted the case.
This legal action is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse nationwide. This program coordinates efforts among federal, state, and local agencies to prosecute offenders exploiting children via the internet while also focusing on victim rescue.
Individuals with information regarding child exploitation are urged to contact the FBI at their hotline or submit tips online.
