Ex-KNBC-TV News Producer Makes Plea Deal With Feds Over Child Pornography Charges; Likely To Get Greatly Reduced Prison Sentence

deadline.com:

Over a year after Phil Drechsler was arrested on child pornography charges, the former KNBC-TV news producer has made a plea deal with prosecutors that could see him receiving a greatly reduced sentence.

Picked up on the run in Cincinnati in April 2023, Drechsler today entered a guilty plea in federal court on the lone charge of distribution of child pornography, a May 20 filing of a revised plea agreement details Compelled to register as a sex offender, wearing a monitoring device, and stay away from schools, kids, computers, post office boxes and much more, Drechsler’s deal with the government will see prosecutors’ request the judge to sentence the 11-year KNBC vet to the statutory minimum required.

On a charge that could see an offender behind bars for up to 20 years, Drechsler may get just five years in prison, five years supervised release, and a few thousand dollars in fines along with full restitution to his victims.

No sentencing date has been set yet. In its 22-page Monday filing in LA (read it here), the office of U.S. Attorney E. Martin Estrada  promised Drechsler that at that sentencing, when it occurs, it would: At the time of sentencing, move to dismiss the remaining counts of the indictment as against defendant.