An Overland Park, Kansas man was sentenced to more than 15 years in federal prison for child pornography offenses. Jason M. Shellenbergar, 50, received a sentence of 189 months in the Bureau of Prisons, followed by 15 years of supervised release. The sentencing took place on January 27, 2026, before Judge Roseann A. Ketchmark.
Shellenbergar previously pleaded guilty to two counts of distribution of child pornography, one count of receipt of child pornography, and one count of possession of child pornography involving a victim under the age of 12. At the time these crimes were committed, Shellenbergar resided in Independence, Missouri.
Upon his release from prison, Shellenbergar will be required to register as a sex offender and comply with both federal and state registration requirements that may apply for life.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Maureen A. Brackett prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation-Child Exploitation Task Force and the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department.
“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. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims,” according to information provided about the program.
The U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri is responsible for handling federal prosecutions across 66 counties in western Missouri according to its official website. The office works with various law enforcement partners at all levels and operates offices in Kansas City, Jefferson City, and Springfield.
For more details about Project Safe Childhood or internet safety education resources, visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.
