State College man gets max prison sentence for sexual exploitation of autistic toddler
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Federal judge sentenced William S. Welsh to 30 years for producing child pornography.
- Investigation found at least 40 videos and 11 photos of child sexual abuse.
- Judge recommended Minnesota federal prison; 10 years supervised release, treatment.
A State College man pleaded guilty and was sentenced Thursday to three decades in prison for what a federal prosecutor described as a manipulative and devious scheme to sexually exploit autistic and nonverbal toddlers.
William S. Welsh, 30, pleaded guilty to a count of production of child pornography. Eleven charges were dropped. The sentence handed down by U.S. District Judge Matthew W. Brann was the maximum allowed by law.
Brann recommended Welsh serve his time at a federal prison in Minnesota. Once released from prison, Welsh will be supervised for 10 years. He was also ordered to participate in mental health and sex offender treatment.
He is prohibited from having direct contact with any child without permission and must allow a probation officer to install computer monitoring software on any computer he uses.
Welsh held himself out as a babysitter until his May 2024 arrest, when he was living at an apartment along West College Avenue in downtown State College. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Lloyd said Welsh told a friend his “darkest secret” after consuming ecstasy and cocaine — that he sexually abused a 2-year-old.
An investigation found Welsh babysat at least three autistic or nonverbal toddlers in 2023 and that parents reported numerous concerns about him. One toddler resisted diaper changes after being babysat by Welsh, while another said they were left alone for a long time while Welsh played “hide-and-seek” with her autistic brother.
Lloyd said investigators found him in possession of at least 40 videos of child sexual abuse material, including files of children younger than 5 being raped. Eleven photos depicting the sexual exploitation of an autistic 3-year-old Welsh babysat were also found.
His internet history included searches for “nude toddlers,” “toddlers in diapers” and “how to ‘adopt’ and ‘autistic’ toddler,” Lloyd wrote in a sentencing memo sent to Brann.
After he was arrested by State College police, she said Welsh admitted to downloading child sexual abuse material from the dark web. He denied penetrating any toddlers he babysat, but declined to answer whether he photographed them.
“I cannot answer that question,” investigators quoted Welsh as saying. “I won’t answer that question ... but there was never a physical mark on them, I made sure of that.”
Prosecutors recommended the maximum sentence, in part, because Welsh was convicted of the sexual abuse of a minor when he was 17. He was not required to register as a sex offender at that time because he was not an adult.
In the years since, Lloyd said Welsh’s “predatory” sexual behavior escalated into targeting autistic and nonverbal toddlers. Inpatient and probation records deemed him to be an ongoing public safety threat and recommended he be isolated from the public.
“The victimized toddlers were incapable of defending themselves or even reporting Welsh’s illicit abuse,” Lloyd wrote. “Welsh’s actions, together with the nonverbal characteristic of the toddlers he targeted, demonstrates his intention to continue and perpetuate a pattern of sexual abuse with impunity.”
Defense lawyer Helen Stolinas advocated for a 25-year prison sentence, telling Brann her client was adopted from Russia as a toddler and that he was sexually abused by a babysitter from ages 6 through 13. She said he has been diagnosed with a range of mental and neurological health conditions.
Stolinas also said Welsh has shown “genuine remorse.” He provided a detailed statement acknowledging his wrongdoing and is independently working through sex offender treatment.
This story was originally published December 12, 2025 at 2:40 PM.