United States Attorney Leura G. Canary Middle District of Alabama

FORMER MILLBROOK TEACHER ENTERS GUILTY PLEA TO
POSSESSION OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

MONTGOMERY, Ala.— Daniel L. Platt, age 50, of Millbrook, Ala., pled guilty to possession of child pornography in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama on March 2, 2007, before United States Magistrate Judge Wallace Capel, Jr., U.S. Attorney Leura Canary announced today. Platt was formerly a teacher at Millbrook Middle School.

Platt admitted to possessing hundreds of images of children engaged in sexually explicit activities. These images were found on his laptop computer.

“One of the most horrendous crimes plaguing the nation is the sexual abuse and exploitation of children,” stated U.S. Attorney Leura Canary. “We are facing an internet-driven epidemic of child pornography, and child enticement and sexual abuse cases are multiplying at alarming rates. This case is an example of Project Safe Childhood in action. Our office and the FBI joined forces with state and local law enforcement and prosecutors to insure that this offender will receive and serve the longest possible sentence. This office will continue to work collaboratively with state and locals to put away offenders who prey on children.”

Defendant faces a maximum fine of $250,000 and not more than 10 years imprisonment or both, and lifetime supervised release. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled.

Platt is also facing charges at the state level for sexual abuse and sodomy of an 11-year-old girl who was not a student or former student of Platt’s. Platt was arrested for those charges on March 7, 2006. The state case, which is being prosecuted by District Attorney Randall Houston, has been continued pending resolution of the federal charges. The sexual abuse charge is a class C felony punishable by a sentence of one year and a day to up to 10 years. Sodomy is a class A felony punishable by a sentence of 10 years to life.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In May 2006, The Department of Justice launched Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.
For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.

This case was investigated by the Millbrook Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The federal case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tommie Brown Hardwick.