75-year-old Stephen Allen Hill of Boone was sentenced late Tuesday to 48 months in prison for possession of child pornography. The announcement was made by Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.

In addition to the prison term imposed, Hill was ordered to serve 20 years of supervised release, to register as a sex offender after he is released from prison, and to pay a $100 special assessment, a $5,000 Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act (JTVA) assessment, a $17,000 special assessment under the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act (AVAA), and a $30,000 fine.

According to court documents and court proceedings, in October 2020, law enforcement became aware that an individual, later identified as Hill, was using a peer-to-peer network to share child pornography with other users.

According to court records, on January 15, 2021, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Hill’s residence in Boone. During the execution of the search warrant, law enforcement seized several electronic devices, including a computer, hard drives, and Hill’s cellphone. A forensic examination of the devices revealed that they contained images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children, including toddlers and infants engaging in sadistic and masochistic conduct.

In total, Hill possessed in excess of 29,000 images and 340 videos depicting child pornography. On December 16, 2022, Hill pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography that involved a prepubescent minor who had not attained 12 years of age. In making the announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked the SBI and the Boone Police Department for their investigation of the case.