DOYLESTOWN, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — A 47-year-old Warminster man will spend up to 20 years in state prison for possession of child sexual abuse material, including AI-generated images he created of teenager he’d known all her life.
Christopher O’Neill was sentenced to seven to 20 years in prison, after he pleaded guilty to possessing 694 videos and images of child sexual abuse material that prosecutors say not only included some children as young as two years old, but also AI-generated images of a 15-year-old girl he’d known for years.
Bucks County Judge Stephen Corr told O’Neill the content of the images and videos classified as child sexual abuse material was shocking, but called his ability to sexualize a 15-year-old with AI “deeply, deeply disturbing.”
The day after police confiscated O’Neill’s electronics, he went into the girl’s home and stole underwear out of her hamper. A victim impact statement from that girl said she viewed him as a sort of father figure and his actions stole her ability to trust people, even friends.
Prosecutor Kristin McElroy said the case shows AI-generated pornography and child sexual abuse material is not a victimless crime.
“This child's face was put on really horrific images, including images engaging in conduct with this defendant. So to say that she is not a victim because her body wasn't touched is really a complete lack of understanding about how these cases work,” she said.
“It's hard to think of how she ever really can be able to trust in relationships, because that's a relationship that she trusted, believed in, and then this happened and he used her face to do really deplorable things.”
O’Neill tearfully told the court he was ashamed and apologized saying he knew it was wrong, never wanted it to come to light, and never wanted to hurt the girl. He has been designated a sexually violent predator and will be subject to lifetime reporting under Megan’s Law.
