Man gets jail time in child porn case

A Nebraska man will spend 45 days in the Davison County Jail for a child pornography conviction.

Bruce Warnke, 57, received a suspended execution of a prison sentence Tuesday in Mitchell for each of two counts of possessing, manufacturing or distributing child pornography. Each sentence is five years to run concurrently.

Warnke brought his computer to Mitchell from Butte, Neb., to a computer repair shop to be repaired in June. An employee there noticed files appearing to depict child pornography and alerted law enforcement.

Warnke’s attorney, Tim Whalen, said Warnke has a clean record and has realized child pornography is not a victimless crime.

Warnke had a job at a bank prior to his arrest.

“I believe my client is able to be productive in society,” Whalen said.

Davison County State’s Attorney Pat Smith asked for 10 years in prison for each charge with five years suspended on each.

“I apologize to the courts. I want to apologize to my family and to society for what I did,” Warnke said while standing at the defendant’s table. “I truly am sorry for what I have done.”

Judge Sean O’Brien referenced Warnke’s report from the Abbott House evaluation program and the pre-sentence investigation, which said Warnke needs to address the connection between drinking and viewing pornography. O’Brien said Warnke seems to have the ability to change his ways.

O’Brien sentenced Warnke to five years in prison on each charge, but suspended the execution of sentence.

Warnke will also be required to pay a $1,000 fine, $104 in court costs and the cost of the psychosexual evaluation. He will be on probation for five years.

He also must get and maintain gainful employment and register as a sex offender.

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