A Rockford, Iowa man pleaded guilty in federal court in Cedar Rapids to receiving child pornography. Anthony Paul Harden, 47, was convicted of one count of receipt of child pornography.
According to evidence presented in a plea agreement and at a previous hearing, law enforcement searched Harden’s home in August 2025 and seized four electronic devices containing child pornography. Between May 2023 and July 2025, Harden received and possessed hundreds of images and videos depicting child pornography, including material involving toddlers as well as sadistic and masochistic conduct.
The case is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative started by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to address child sexual exploitation and abuse. The project brings together federal, state, and local resources to find and prosecute those who exploit children and to help victims. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at www.usdoj.gov/pscLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link.. Information on internet safety education is also available at www.usdoj.gov/pscLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link., under the “resources” tab.
Sentencing for Harden will be scheduled after a presentence report is completed. He was taken into custody by U.S. Marshals following his guilty plea and will remain detained until sentencing. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison, up to a maximum of twenty years, along with a possible $250,000 fine, special assessments totaling $35,100, and lifetime supervised release after imprisonment.
Assistant United States Attorney Devra T. Hake is prosecuting the case. The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation along with the Floyd County Sheriff’s Office.
