A Limestone County resident has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for child pornography offenses, according to an announcement from U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.
Clayton Sawyer, Jr., age 67 and a resident of Athens, Alabama, received the sentence from U.S. District Judge Harold D. Mooty, III. The court ordered that Sawyer serve 180 months in prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release. Additionally, Sawyer must pay a $3,000 special assessment as mandated by the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Act. He pleaded guilty in December 2025 to possessing child pornography.
According to court documents, United States Probation Officers searched Sawyer’s home on February 4, 2025. During the search they discovered a Samsung smartphone concealed inside a box labeled “Breakfast Essentials.” Forensic examination of the phone uncovered 18 images containing child pornography. Authorities stated that Sawyer’s possession of an electronic communication device was not permitted under his terms of supervised release.
At the time of this incident, Sawyer was already serving a life term of supervised release due to prior federal convictions in the Northern District of Alabama for receiving and possessing child pornography.
The investigation was conducted by FBI Birmingham – Huntsville RA and the United States Probation Office. Assistant United States Attorney Daniel S. McBrayer prosecuted the case.
This prosecution falls under Project Safe Childhood, which is a Department of Justice initiative started in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse through coordinated efforts among federal, state, and local agencies to find offenders and help victims. Further details about Project Safe Childhood are available at www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
