Joshua Ziegler Press Release (Guilty Plea)

October 22, 2009
For Immediate Release

DENT COUNTY MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO FEDERAL CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CHARGES

St. Louis, MO: Joshua Ziegler pleaded guilty to federal child pornography charges, Acting United States Attorney Michael W. Reap and Dent County Sheriff Rick Stallings announced today.

JOSHUA ZIEGLER, Salem, Missouri, pleaded guilty to one felony count of receipt of child pornography and one felony count of possession of child pornography. He appeared before United States District Judge Charles A. Shaw. An investigation by the South Central Missouri Computer Crime Task Force revealed that in October and November 2008, Ziegler received and possessed images containing child pornography on his computer.

Receipt of child pornography carries a penalty range of five to 20 years in prison and/or fines up to $250,000; possession of child pornography carries a maximum penalty of ten years in prison and/or fines up to $250,000. Sentencing has been set for January 21, 2010.

This case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), 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.

Reap commended the work performed on the case by the South Central Missouri Computer Crime Task Force, the Dent County Sheriff’s Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Assistant United States Attorney Carrie Costantin, who is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

UNITED STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE EASTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI MICHAEL W. REAP Acting United States Attorney	NEWS RELEASE
For further information call (314) 539-2200
October 22, 2009 For Immediate Release DENT COUNTY MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO FEDERAL CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CHARGES St. Louis, MO: Joshua Ziegler pleaded guilty to federal child pornography charges, Acting United States Attorney Michael W. Reap and Dent County Sheriff Rick Stallings announced today. JOSHUA ZIEGLER, Salem, Missouri, pleaded guilty to one felony count of receipt of child pornography and one felony count of possession of child pornography. He appeared before United States District Judge Charles A. Shaw. An investigation by the South Central Missouri Computer Crime Task Force revealed that in October and November 2008, Ziegler received and possessed images containing child pornography on his computer. Receipt of child pornography carries a penalty range of five to 20 years in prison and/or fines up to $250,000; possession of child pornography carries a maximum penalty of ten years in prison and/or fines up to $250,000. Sentencing has been set for January 21, 2010. This case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), 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. Reap commended the work performed on the case by the South Central Missouri Computer Crime Task Force, the Dent County Sheriff’s Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Assistant United States Attorney Carrie Costantin, who is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.