SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. — A Shippensburg Police Department detective pleaded guilty Monday to possessing child pornography involving a prepubescent minor, the U.S. Department of Justice said Tuesday.
Matthew Pleisse, 36, of Shippensburg, faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. He also must resign from the police department, according to the Justice Department.
Investigators seized Pleisse’s laptop and cellphone during a search of his home in April 2025. Authorities determined he had used cryptocurrency to purchase child pornography on the dark web, prosecutors said.
A federal grand jury indicted Pleisse in May on allegations that he received child pornography multiple times between July 2024 and April 2025, according to prosecutors.
In addition to prison time, Pleisse faces a fine and a term of supervised release. He also will be prohibited from holding or seeking a position of public trust, the Justice Department said.
Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat child sexual exploitation.
