North Iowa Man, Repeat Offender, Pleads Guilty in Federal Court to Receipt of Child Pornography

A North Iowa man has pleaded guilty in federal court to receipt of child pornography, marking his second similar federal conviction.  

At the plea hearing August 31st, 44-year-old William Collins of Stacyville admitted that, between January 2015 and September 2025, he received and attempted to receive visual depictions of child pornography.  Evidence also showed that Collins possessed and attempted to possess visual depictions of child porn, including a depiction involving a prepubescent minor or a minor who had not attained 12 years of age.  

During a search warrant of Collins’ phone, Mason City Police found 17 videos and 75 images of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) plus hundreds of images of child erotica.  The images and videos involved material that portrayed sadistic or masochistic conduct, as well as prepubescent children and toddlers.    

Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Collins faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years up to a possible maximum sentence of 40 years in federal prison. He’s also subject to a $250,000 fine, and at least five years of supervised release following any prison term.

Collins remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. 

MCPD was assisted in the investigation by the Iowa Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. 

In 2008, Collins was convicted of possession of child porn in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa and served time in federal prison.