An Ellwood City man pleaded guilty in federal court in Pittsburgh to a charge of attempted production and production of material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor, according to U.S. Attorney Eric Olshan.

David Bates, 63, pleaded guilty to one charge before U.S. District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan on Monday, June 12.

Between July 2020 and October 2020, Bates and another person attempted to and persuaded a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing visual depictions of the minor engaged in such conduct, according to Olshan.

An Ellwood City man pleaded guilty in federal court in Pittsburgh to a charge of attempted production and production of material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor, according to U.S. Attorney Eric Olshan.

David Bates, 63, pleaded guilty to one charge before U.S. District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan on Monday, June 12.

Between July 2020 and October 2020, Bates and another person attempted to and persuaded a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing visual depictions of the minor engaged in such conduct, according to Olshan.

Sentencing has been scheduled for Oct. 3. Bates is facing a sentence of 15 to 30 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Bates is being held in prison pending sentencing.

The FBI conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Bates. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.