TOPEKA — A 37-year-old Emporia man pleaded guilty to federal child pornography charges on Monday, according to Jim Cross, public information officer for U.S. Attorney Eric Melgren.
Kevin Patrick Thompson, 37, pleaded guilty to one count of receiving child pornography through the mail and Internet and one count of possessing child pornography, Cross said. The crimes occurred from April 12, 2001, through Feb. 3, 2006, in Emporia.
The plea was the result of a federal grand jury indictment handed down on June 13, 2007. Thompson remained free on his own personal recognizance after the indictment.
According to Gazette records, the first indictment accused Thompson of receiving interstate and foreign shipments through mail and computer of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
The second count accused Thompson of possessing one or more “books, periodicals, films, videotapes and other matter” showing a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
Thompson admitted in his plea that on March 15, 2001, he ordered three child pornography videotapes from a Web site. The tapes were delivered to Thompson by a postal inspector on April 12, 2001.
“In 2003, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents working on a child pornography investigation determined that Thompson had purchased access to half a dozen child pornography sites,” Cross said.
In January 2006, ICE agents determined that he had purchased memberships to another Web site that allowed him to download child pornography from the Internet.
Investigators executed a search warrant at Thompson’s residence on Feb. 3, 2007, and seized a computer and other items.
“Examiners found hundreds of images of child pornography on the computer,” Cross said.
A forensic examiner found more than 1,200 images of child pornography on Thompson’s computer, according to the indictment.
Sentencing is set for July 14, 2008. Thompson faces a sentence of five to 20 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000 on a charge of receiving child pornography, and a maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine of up to $250,000 for possessing child pornography.
Cross said that Thompson was prosecuted under the Department of Justice Operation Safe Childhood program. More information about the program may be seen at www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
create (anonymous) says...
This sicko makes my blood run cold. I hope the judge gives him the maximum 30 years with no parole. No child is safe around these degenerates.
April 9, 2008 at 3:37 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )