Aberdeen Man Sentenced For Sexual Exploitation, Abuse Of A Child In His Care

ABERDEEN, MD — A 41-year-old Aberdeen man has been sentenced for his involvement in the sexual exploitation of a minor. His 37-year-old wife will be sentenced Sept. 4 for her role in the crime.

According to his plea agreement, from 2011 to 2013, Nicholas Paul Bryson and his wife and co-defendant, Heather Clark, repeatedly sexually abused a prepubescent minor in their care. They also produced numerous sexually explicit videos and images of the abuse. A federal search warrant executed in the case identified approximately 1,000 depictions of child pornography from various seized devices, according to prosecutors.

Bryson has been sentenced to 40 years in federal prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release for two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor. Bryson was ordered to pay $16,000 in restitution to his victims. After his release from prison, Bryson will be required to register as a sex offender in the place where he lives, where he is an employee and where he is a student in accordance to the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.

Clark has pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor and will be sentenced next month. She faces 60 years in federal prison.