TEHACHAPI, Calif. — According to U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott, 36-year-old Robert James Mueller formerly of Tehachapi was sentenced to 15 years in prison for "receipt and distribution of child pornography and failure to register as a sex offender."

In a statement from the Department of Justice, "between Dec. 2010 and Nov. 2014, using a cellphone and an email account, Mueller received and distributed more than 600 images of child pornography. Some of the images were depictions of minors being subjected to violence or sadistic conduct, and many were of prepubescent minors. Mueller also admitted that he had failed to comply with a lifetime sex offender registration requirement that was imposed as a result of an Army court-martial proceeding and conviction related to possession of child pornography in 2008."

"The sentence imposed includes a lifetime term of supervised release, during which Mueller’s access to minors, computers, and the internet will be restricted. He will also be required to register as a sex offender, and pay $30,000 in restitution to 10 victims who filed claims."