United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

Project Safe Childhood: GROTON MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO FEDERAL CHILD PORNOGRAPHY POSSESSION CHARGE

Nora R. Dannehy, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ROBERT WUNSCH, 59, of Buddington Road, Groton, pleaded guilty today before Chief United States District Judge Alvin W. Thompson in Hartford to one count of possession of child pornography.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on February 9, 2007, special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation executed a court-authorized search of WUNSCH’s residence on information that WUNSCH’s home computer was used in the Internet sharing of sexually explicit images of minors.  Subsequent analysis of home computers, external hard drives, and related equipment that were seized during the search revealed the existence of many images and videos featuring child pornography, including numerous photographs of children under the age of 12, and material portraying sadistic or masochistic conduct.

Judge Thompson has scheduled sentencing for May 7, 2010, at which time WUNSCH faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a fine of up to $250,000.

This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James Smart.

U.S. Attorney Dannehy noted that this prosecution is part of the United States Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse.  Led by the 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 identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.

CONTACT:

U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Tom Carson
(203) 821-3722
thomas.carson@usdoj.gov