Humboldt County Man Sentenced to Prison for “Especially Graphic and Horrifying” Child Pornography
[Editor note: The following article includes details about the case that may be particularly disturbing. Discretion is advised.]
HUMBOLDT COUNTY, CA — A Humboldt County man initially granted probation instead of being sent to prison for child pornography will now be incarcerated after all, according to authorities.
In a press release, the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office announced that Matthias Alexander Wilberger, 39, has been sentenced to nearly six years in prison for violating the terms of his probation.
According to the sheriff’s office, Wilberger was arrested in May of 2023 on suspicion of possessing child pornography and later confessed during a police interview.
A forensic examination reportedly uncovered a large quantity of “especially graphic and horrifying” images and videos, resulting in additional charges for possessing over 600 images of child pornography and possession of child pornography involving sadism and masochism.
In December of 2023, Matthias pleaded guilty to the charges and, in January of 2024, was handed a sentence of five years and eight months in prison.
The judge later suspended that sentence and placed Matthias on probation instead, the terms of which required him to register as a sex offender, complete a sex offender treatment program, and serve one full year in the Humboldt County Correctional Facility.
In July of 2024, Wilberger was released after serving only 168 days, according to the sheriff’s office.
In May of this year, authorities reportedly carried out an unannounced sex offender registrant compliance check. During this, a detective discovered material on Wilberger’s phone that allegedly violated his probation. He was arrested and booked. In June of this year, Matthias pleaded guilty to the violation.
On Tuesday, Sept. 16, Humboldt County Superior Court Judge Neel reimposed Wilberger’s original sentence of five years and eight months in prison.
