An Ogallala man will spend the next 35 months in federal prison after he was sentenced for possessing child pornography.

According to a news release from Deborah Gilg, United States Attorney, 28-year-old Ryan Freitag was sentenced by the Honorable Laurie Smith Camp on Monday.

Prosecutors say Freitag entered into an internet relationship with a 15-year-old girl who lived in West Virginia.  They say the girl sent Freitag a series of images consisting of “erotica and child pornography.” In return, Freitag sent pictures of his genitalia to the girl.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. It is led by United States Attorneys Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS).

Freitag will serve a ten year term of supervised release after his release from prison, and will be required to register as a sex offender.