Former Show Low Officer Sentenced 42 Months Prison Child Pornography

Samuel Joseph Weimer, a former Show Low, Arizona police officer, has been sentenced to 42 months in federal prison followed by 20 years of supervised release after pleading guilty to possessing child pornography. Between August and November 2022, Weimer engaged in a social media chat room where he believed he was communicating with a father offering his 11-year-old daughter for sex, and he sent two images and one video of child pornography to this individual. The FBI’s Phoenix Field Office, under Project Safe Childhood, investigated the case, emphasizing that Weimer’s actions were a gross betrayal of public trust and that the agency will aggressively pursue such crimes regardless of the perpetrator's status. Weimer also admitted to sharing an image of his genitals and distributing illicit material during conversations with an undercover FBI employee posing as the father. U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine highlighted the severity of the offense, noting the officer's sworn duty to uphold the law, and FBI Special Agent in Charge Heith Janke condemned the conduct as beyond shocking. The sentencing serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing efforts to combat child sexual exploitation and protect vulnerable victims.