Joseph Hiersche of Chicopee sentenced to 15 years in prison on child porn charges

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - A Chicopee resident that prosecutors say used hidden cameras to take videos of nude children has been sentenced to 15 years in prison on child exploitation charges.

Joseph Hiersche , 40, received the sentence at Federal Court in Springfield on Thursday. He had earlier pleaded guilty to seven counts of sexual exploitation of a child, receipt of child pornography, and possession of child pornography.

• Chicopee Sex Offenders

According to a news release sent to 22News by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Hiersche downloaded numerous images of child pornography from 2010 through 2012, and he used hidden cameras to take videos of nude children, with the intent to produce sexually-explicit images. Prosecutors say Hiersche made the videos to share with someone with that he knew through the Internet.

Hiersche’s 15-year prison sentence will be followed by 10 years of supervised release.